Europe Travel Blog

When you are in Munich at Christmas the place to be is the Marienplatz, which is the heart of the old centre, and overlooked by the terribly grand neo-gothic Town Hall. Here you will find hundreds of stalls, which have been selling their wares here since the 17th century. There is a Christmas tree which is some thirty metres high, and festooned with lights. The market is predominantly arts and crafts, with plenty of novel Christmas decorations for sale as well. In true German Christmas market style, there is an abundance of wine and beer, and there are also hot potato cakes that go down a real treat with the German sausage that is for sale. There are also plenty of sweets to buy, as well as various goodies, such as marshmallow and bits of fruit, that are dipped in chocolate. Fresh fruit pieces dipped in very dark chocolate make a particularly wonderful treat.

Behind this main market is what is known as the Crib Market, and here you can buy traditional nativity figures from Bavaria and Austria for putting together your own decorative crib at home, with Mary, Joseph, the baby Jesus, shepherds, kings and animals.

Every evening Alpine choirs sing and brass bands play on the Town Hall balcony. There is a crèche for children run in the town hall, including an area where children can paint, make Christmas cookies and dress up as angels, and other seasonal characters.

The market runs right up until Christmas Eve, so you have plenty of time to catch it.

Filed under: Christmas markets, Germany