Christmas in Europe--Part I : German Christmas Markets

Below is a sampling of some of the more popular ones:

Munich

The market, which dates back 600 years and is Germany's oldest, is held in the Marienplatz, the old city center. It has several hundred stalls to choose from, and if you get tired of shopping, you can always watch the dancing figures of the elaborate Glockenspiel.

Rothenburg

The medieval city of Rothenburg has remained fairly unchanged for nearly 10 centuries, fortunate enough to have escaped the damage from two world wars. Part of the charm of its Christmas market is that the town itself is so picturesque, and that I is easy to imagine what Christmas must have been like in an earlier time.

Stuttgart Their 300 year old Christkindlmarkt in Castle and Market Squares is known for its hand-crafted wooden toys, beautiful ornaments and unique pottery.

Nurnberg

An old city, ironically famous for both its children's toys and the trials which took place after WW II, and also the home of renowned artist Albrecht Durer. The market is held around the lovely fountain in the town square. If you want to take a break from the chilly outdoor air, you can warm up in the nearby churches of St. Lorenz and St. Sebaldus, along with the Albrecht Durer house and the German National Museum.

Berlin

The once magnificent Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedachniskirche now stands as a hollow shell, left in place to remind us of the horrors of war. In its shadow is held Berlin's Christmas market, creating a rather sharp contrast between the bombed out church--with its horrific memories of war and destruction--and the gaiety of the season. Well positioned at the beginning of the Ku'damm, Berlin's lively shopping street (or at the end of the Ku'damm, depending on one's perspective), there's plenty of other stores to peruse after visiting the market.

Trier

It is Germany's oldest city, founded by the Romans in 16 AD, and also fills the annals of history as the birthplace of Karl Marx. Taking time out from the market, you can still see remnants of its Roman past, such as the large stone gate known as Porta Nigra, which dates back to the second century AD.

Bamberg

In a tradition that has been held since 1615, you can walk along a 26 station nativity walk. And after shopping at the market, you may want to visit two other cities in the area; Coburg, where you can peruse through the Teddy Bear Factory, and Rodental, home of the Hummel

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