stadtaachen

When Christmas is on its way Aachen becomes a fairytale city, and the culmination of this build-up to the festive season is the Christmas Market surrounding the cathedral and the City Hall.

Year after year, over 1.5 million people from all over Europe flock to what is one of Germany’s biggest and most beautiful Christmas markets. Jewellery from the whole world over, sweet-tasting Aachen specialities and high-quality Christmas decorations – from brightly-coloured birds to wooden incense-burning figures – grace over 100 individual booths. Delighted children take rides on the carousel, romantic couples show each other what they’d like for Christmas, and groups of schoolchildren from England and northern France enjoy roast almonds and toffee-apples.

Once the market opens, there’s only one destination for work colleagues, fellow students and club mates who enjoy meeting over a mug of mulled “Glühwein” to seal their friendships. And then, once the live stage-show starts and festive music wafts across the entire market, everyone becomes a wide-eyed child again.

The history of the Aachen Christmas Market

Christmas markets trace their roots back to the winter weekly markets of the 18th century when children believed that the Christ-child would be buying his presents there (in Germany it’s the Christ-child who brings the Christmas Eve gifts). The 1970’s saw Aachen’s first “Printenmarkt” at “Elisenbrunnen” which, thanks to its popularity, soon moved to its present, larger location surrounding the cathedral and the City Hall. And people love it to this day for its breathtaking setting and its homely atmosphere.

If, like the Christ-child, you too are on the look-out for that perfect gift, you’ll find it at Aachen Christmas Market and its neighbouring, lovingly decorated shops and pedestrian precincts in Aachen city centre – with all the romantic festive atmosphere as the icing on the cake.

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