In
Advent the streets and squares of the UNESCO World Heritage site and
one of Germany's best preserved medieval cities are filled with
sparkling Christmas lights.
The castle-like towers of the mansions
built by medieval patricians look magical in the shimmering
atmosphere, as does the Regensburg’s Christmas Market, which an
independent jury described as one of the loveliest in any
German-speaking country.
The stalls and booths around the
500-year-old Neupfarr Church and in front of the classical columns of
the former city guardhouse sell a glittering range of Christmas
decorations, traditional Nativity crib scenes with carved figures,
children’s toys and other very practical presents.
Through
narrow streets, hidden passageways and courtyards, the visitor can
stroll on to Kohlenmarkt and Haidplatz, to LUCREZIAMARKT where
artists and craftsmen set up stalls laden with wonderful handmade
wares such as dolls, pottery, paintings on silk and other materials,
marionettes hanging amid a mass of strings, fine-quality toys (often
too good to play with) and all sorts of other gifts. The creative
people who have made all these objects are happy to explain
techniques,and to encourage visitors to make tings themselves.
Alongside these stands with their works of art, other booths invite
visitors to sample gingerbread and Christmas cookies, all baked, of
course, with wholemeal flour and other mouth watering goodies .
Furthermore, located in the courtyard of Thurn and Taxis Palace
there is the Romantic Christmas Market,a Christmas event like a
fairy tale. This romantic Christmas market offers all the bustling
atmosphere of a market, traditional Bavarian delicacies, and a
varied programme of cultural events like daily entertainment
programmes with theme nights, for example “The Night of Choirs”,
“Bavarian Style Christmas” and so on. Her Highness Gloria of Thurn
und Taxis tells the “Christmas Story” and Regensburg’s “Christkindl”
recites poems each day.
At
the Spitalgarden, Regensburg's fourth Christmas Market takes place in
front of some fantastic scenery, overlooking the cathedral and the
old stone bridge. With its advent enchantment guests can experience
an extraordinary programme with regional dishes and specialities like mulled
wine, or mulled beer, wild ragout and much more.
And
every year again during Advent there are boat trips along the Danube
Valley from Regensburg through the charming winter landscape. These
boat trips take place every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 2pm
during the pre-Christmas period.
Plus
don’t miss the Christmas concert of the world famous boys choir, the
“Regensburger Domspatzen”. |
Nuremberg
1hr
