5 Reasons for the Göttingen Christmas Market. | bettercities.net.de

The time until Christmas is not long. To shorten the wait until Christmas Eve, we take you to the Christmas market - for example, to one of the most beautiful Christmas markets in the heart of Germany, Göttingen!

Hand on heart: Visiting Christmas markets is one of the best traditions during the Advent season - and the atmosphere at the Göttingen Christmas market couldn't be more contemplative. Here are 5 reasons why a trip to the traditional Göttingen Christmas market is a must during the holiday season.

Göttingen is located in the heart of Germany and is therefore easy to reach from anywhere. You know the drill: Many of your friends and family are spread across Germany, and it's always a challenge to find a good meeting point. The solution: Göttingen!

The Göttingen city center is picturesque at any time and is always worth a visit. But in the winter months, when shining letters reveal the names of the streets you're walking down, you unavoidably feel like you're in a fairyland. The city's historic buildings captivate the eye, and many strings of lights and LED installations bathe the city in a cozy Christmas atmosphere.

For everyone who wants to send a funny Christmas photo, 'Rudi' is the perfect model. The mechanical elk sings, talks, and sounds a bit like his namesake Rudi Carell. Under the hashtags #elchrudi or #sprechenderelch, you will already find some photos from Rudi's fans on Instagram. And even though the talking elk is only starting its second season at the Göttingen Christmas market in 2019!

The Göttingen Christmas market was first mentioned amusingly in a complaint letter to the city's magistrate in 1852: The Sunday Sabbath rest was disturbed by the sales booths. The Christmas market evolved from the weekly market that took place year-round in the marketplace.

With the approval of the St. Johannis community, the market expanded in 1994 to Johanniskirchplatz. At the same time, a colorful stage program as well as a large nativity scene and an advent calendar were introduced - and they remain popular to this day!

Around the Old Town Hall and the St. Johannis Church in Göttingen, there are handmade items to eat and give as gifts to discover. True trademarks of the Göttingen Christmas market are the high café and the Ferris wheel. In total, about 75 stands invite you to browse, feast, linger, and shop. Additionally, the city organizes a large cultural framework program: About 60 events delight visitors of the Christmas market year after year.

bettercities.net tip: Be sure to stop by the stand of the Krummacker family from Hetjershausen for a cup of mulled wine. For many Göttingen locals, it's as much a part of Christmas as biscuits and gingerbread - after all, it was invented at the Göttingen Christmas market: mulled wine with pickled Bacardi cherries!