On the Roemerberg, a beautifully decorated tree reaches toward the skies. Frankfurt’s historical old town is bathed in a sea of light, brightly illuminated by thousands of fairy lights reflecting off the windows of the square’s traditional half-timbered houses. The scent of baked apples, chestnuts, gingerbread and mulled wine fills the air. It’s Christmas market time again in Frankfurt am Main. If you’ve ever wanted to experience the wonderful wintertime charm of the old world, then the Frankfurt Christmas Market is the place for you!
Every year, the scent of roast chestnuts, mulled wine and grilled sausages fills the air above the Roemerberg during the Advent season. Frankfurt’s Christmas market is famous for a number of traditional Christmas delicacies, including Bethmännchen, small almond biscuits, hot apple wine with cinnamon and cloves, and the delicious Quetschemännchen, colourful figures made of nuts and dried plums. Another unique culinary feature of the Frankfurt Christmas Market is the Honey House on St Paul’s Square. This 300-year-old timberframe building, which is assembled every year especially for the market, proffers a rich variety of honey-based products, including many varieties of honey, honey wine, candles and other goods made of beeswax.
Lovers of handcraft, meanwhile, are sure to find what they are looking for at the Roemerhallen (Roman Halls) and St Paul’s Church, where local artists await with a unique arts and crafts bazaar. Here, the chances of finding a one-of-a-kind Christmas gift are very high indeed. While the grown-ups are busy with the purchase of Christmas presents, the little ones have the opportunity to enjoy themselves on the historical wooden-horse merry-go-round or take in some of the other children’s attractions on offer.
The festive sounds of Christmas may be heard every Wednesday and Saturday at 6:00 pm, when the tower horns trumpet from the balcony of St Nicolas Church, filling the Römerberg with nostalgic yuletide melodies. There’s plenty more music on offer, with Christmas carols from across the globe performed regularly on the Römerberg stage, right next to the market’s beautiful life-sized nativity scene.
