Thursday 4 December 2014

Frankfurt Christmas Market


One of the real joys of living in Germany is having the incredible
Christmas Markets on our doorstep. The is nothing as magical as 
wandering around the stalls, fairy lights twinkling, the smell of roasting chestnuts
and the spices of gluhwein filling the air. 
The atmosphere festive with laugher, people chatting and children playing.

The Frankfurt Weihnachtmarkt, one of Germany's oldest Christmas Markets,
opened on 26 November and runs until 22 December 2014.
There is evidence that Christmas markets were held in Frankfurt as far back as 1393, 
though in those days it was a simple affair for locals to stock up on essentials
 before the harsh winter set in.

Today the market is nestled in the heart of Frankfurt's historic centre,
half timbered buildings, the scenic surroundings together with the 
cute stalls, lights glistening with a huge, beautifully decorated Christmas Tree
dominating the spectacular marketplace.

With over 200 Stalls stretching from the Zeil shopping street down to the river, 
 selling anything from decorations, gingerbread, bratwurst,
roasted nuts and chocolate covered fruit.
You can find beautiful wooden Christmas scenes, woollen scarves and gloves. 
There is something for everyone, plenty of places to stop for a gluhwein or 
hot chocolate to warm up before going off to discover more.


Frankfurt Christmas Market 2014

The setting is spectacular!

Frankfurt Christmas Market 2014

Nothing like a twinkling carousel ride to
brighten the day of any child or child at heart.

Frankfurt Christmas Market 2014

The lights and decorations add to the atmosphere.

Frankfurt Christmas Market 2014

Stalls on cobblestoned streets, nestled alongside beautiful buildings.

Frankfurt Christmas Market 2014

Bare tree silhouettes add to the atmosphere. 

Frankfurt Christmas Market 2014

Beautiful decorations abound.

Frankfurt Christmas Market 2014

Frankfurt Christmas Market 2014

The gingerbread is colourful and tempting.

Frankfurt Christmas Market 2014

Was actually quite delicious!

Frankfurt Christmas Market 2014

The variety of foods on offer diverse. This salmon...divine!

Frankfurt Christmas Market 2014

You cannot go to a German Christmas market without having a mug of gluhwein or hot chocolate. 
You pay a deposit/Pfand for the mug. When you have finished your drink you can return the
mug and get your deposit back ...or you can keep it as a souvenir.

I 'may' have been to the Frankfurt Christmas Market three times since
it opened, every visit I discover more...and I look forward to exploring a few
more German Christmas Markets in the next few weeks.


3 comments:

  1. What a marvelous way to shop for the holidays. Magical as you said.

    There is such a holiday market tin NYC each year. I've never been but my sister's son-in-law has a soap business and sells soap there each year. This year my sister at age 70 is helping to staff the open shop.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi, I'm looking for the red mug showed in your pic... Do you know if it is possible to butto it online?

    ReplyDelete