Christmas Markets , Augsburg and Nürnberg
December 1, 2002

Many towns in Germany, large and small, have a Christkindlesmarkt or Christmas market. Merchants selling all types of goods set up stands in the city square or marketplace from the end of November until Christmas. Munich and Nürnberg have two of the most famous markets, but even very small towns have them as well.

It's interesting to me that outdoor markets can thrive in the winter here in Germany. Luckily, every third stand generally sells Glühwein -- a type of mulled wine -- and so you walk until you're freezing, then you drink Glühwein and eat a Wurst or maybe a piece of Stollen, and then you walk some more. I have seen recipes for Glühwein, and basically it is red wine heated with sugar and spices. You can smell its boozy aroma in the air all over the market.

Last weekend we decided to drive to Augsburg in search of a particular beer we wanted to try (Hasen Bräu). While we were there, we visited the Augsburg Christmas market in the Rathaus square, as well. Below are pictures from Augsburg, and Nürnberg as well (we stopped by there later that afternoon). You may also be interested in my pictures from two of the Munich markets.

Augsburg Christkindlesmarkt, with the Rathaus (the building on the right), the Perlachturm (the tower on the left), and the new Weinachtspyramide (the spinning wooden contraption closer to the foreground).

The Augsburg market is small, but the prices are better than Nürnberg or Munich, and when we were there the crowd was not so overwhelming.

Christmas tree, lights, and Perlachturm -- against a beautiful blue sky.

Market stalls. On the left is a Glühwein stand.

We bought a few Christmas presents here and enjoyed walking around and looking at all the stalls.

A painted building in Augsburg.

There were several other smaller markets to visit as well, including one that was mostly art and another that was just for children.

A street in Augsburg. I found these buildings' painted facades quite charming.

Zum Weissen Hasen. We were happy to find this Gasthaus serving the beer we came looking for, Hasen Bräu.

We had lunch here and enjoyed the rabbit brew. They really make a nice Weizenbier.

Street scene in Nürnberg during the Christmas market. It was incredibly crowded that Sunday.

 

Looking across the Hauptmarkt to the Frauenkirche, over the roofs of the market stalls.

Another view of the Hauptmarkt, full of stalls. (You can also see the pictures we took of the Hauptmarkt in October.)

A street musician dressed for the season, with his assistant dressed as well (look on his shoulder). I took this picture around 3 pm. When we walked back by at 7 that evening, these two were still there, in exactly the same position.

Also see our pictures from the Munich market.

For more information, visit the official sites for the Augsburg market and the Nürnberg market.

 

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