Frankfurt Christmas Market – serves up original Christmas Specialties
Location: Römerberg, Paulsplatz und Mainkai (Main quay)
Opening hours: Monday – Saturday 10:00 (am) – 21:00 (9pm), Sunday 11:00 (am) – 21:00 (9pm)
Frankfurt is known as Germany’s fast paced financial metropolis and flight hub, but during the Christmas season it slows down and transforms into a festive town with local specialties and charm. The Frankfurt Christmas Market, one of the largest and most beautiful in all of Germany, has been attracting visitors to the Main metropolis for many decades. Its trademark is the gigantic Christmas tree situated directly in front of Frankfurt’s historical town hall.
The very first Christmas market was held in Frankfurt am Main as long ago as 1393. Nowadays, with the coming of the Advent season (the four weeks before Christmas), Frankfurt’s picturesque Roemerberg, the old town square, is transformed into one of Germany’s most beautiful and popular Christmas markets. Visitors will find more than 200 lovingly decorated stalls, offering many fine Frankfurt specialities, an imaginative arts and crafts market with unique gift ideas and a festive fringe programme awaiting them.
Enjoy warm beverages such as a Glühwein (hot spiced wine) and taste traditionally baked delicacies originated in Frankfurt.
On the Christmas Market you can also enjoy two of Frankfurt’s most popular specialities – the Bethmaennchen, a marzipan and almond treat, and the popular Quetschemaennchen, made of dried plums and nuts – look back on over 100 years of culinary tradition.
Bethmaennchen were enjoyed by no less than Frankfurt’s favorite son, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Strangely, no one knows precisely how the delicious pastry got its name, but one believes it came from a Frankfurt banker.
Originally, Bethmaennchen were covered with four almond halves, each representing one of the four sons of the famous Frankfurt banker, Simon Moritz von Bethmann. After the death of one of his sons in 1845, only three almond halves were used.
If you are interested in digging deeper into history and old traditions, take a guided tour of Frankfurt’s time-honoured Christmas market. Become acquainted with the market’s many culinary specialities and its traditions while learning more about historical and modern Frankfurt, Frankfurt personalities and the market itself. Join young and old for a nostalgic ride on a vintage carousel. Afterwards warm yourself with a hot cup of Glühwein at the end of the tour and take in the wonderful view of the market’s beautifully illuminated Christmas tree.
