Burnt almonds and handicrafts: Christmas markets open in Germany

Hannover: Christmas lights in the city center.

Three Christmas markets at once attract visitors to the center of Hannover. The most famous market of the Old Town, located around the Market Church, has carousels and about 120 stalls with culinary and Christmas goods. On the ball court, the Finnish Christmas Village greets visitors with specialties such as salmon cooked over an open fire. The historic market invites you to medieval Hannover with merchants and stalls.

Braunschweig: traditional market in a historical background.

Historic façades in the squares around the medieval cathedral and Dankwarderode Castle give a special atmosphere to the Christmas market in Braunschweig. Some 130 vendors sell handicrafts such as wooden toys, souvenirs and jewelry, as well as local cuisine. The Braunschweig Christmas market has over 300 years of tradition. A popular meeting point is the covered rafts in the historic moat, which has long since run out of water.

Lüneburg: Christmas Market and Fairy Mile.

Gift ideas, mulled wine, fairy tales and choral music in a historical setting: that's what the Lüneburg Christmas market offers on the market square in front of the town hall. Due to the energy crisis, the Old Town and the water tower are lit up this year in a truncated form under the motto "Cozy Lights". The Fairy Mile in the city center is an attraction for younger visitors. Grimm's fairy tales are heard in twelve huts in the form of moving wooden figures. Every day at around 5 pm, a trumpeter plays Christmas songs on the balcony, which are carried throughout the market. A special feature of Lüneburg is the "Historic Christmas Market" in the Michaeliskirche, with food, drink and craft stalls dedicated to the 16th century.

Osnabrück: Christmas magic in front of the cathedral.

The center of Osnabrück's Christmas events is the historic market in front of the cathedral, the town hall and the Marienkirche. There is a huge music box installed, the Holy Family and life-size animals can be admired under 25 Christmas melodies. The historical carousel traditionally circles in front of the town hall.

Celle: Christmas pyramid and mighty tree.

Celle attracts visitors to the Christmas market with a Christmas pyramid, festively lit wooden houses and decorated market stalls with handicrafts. A children's carousel, concerts and trombone choirs diversify the rest for both children and adults.

Hameln: Advent atmosphere in the Pied Piper City.

Surrounding the wedding house and the market church in the old town of Hameln is the Christmas market with about 60 decorated houses with gifts and treats, a large pyramid and carousels. The mysterious rat-catcher also makes his rounds through the decorated city during Advent.

Bremen: Advent atmosphere around the town hall and Roland.

The 600-year-old town hall, Roland and the Duomo form the basis for an atmospheric Christmas market in Bremen's Old Town. Visitors can stroll between the festively decorated stalls with crafts, gastronomy and confectionery, and carousels. Every Thursday evening, colorful fantasy creatures stroll through the market on long stilts, and on Saturdays from 6 pm Christmas tunes are played from the tower wind instruments.

Goslar: wooden houses in front of wooden facades.

The small Christmas market in Goslar is one of the most atmospheric in the north. In front of the facades of the historic half-timbered houses on the Market Square, there are 60 festively decorated wooden houses with crafts and gifts, as well as two children's carousels and kiosks with culinary delights. A popular meeting place is the Christmas Forest. Visitors can drink to the Advent season with mulled wine or punch among the festively lit fir trees.