Nuremberg
Fragrant evergreen trees, beribboned in red velvet bows, line the bridge to Nuremberg’s historic old quarter and the ancient market within. Inside this imposing fortress, holiday merriment flourishes in the Handwerkerhof. Hidden behind the half doors of Old-World stalls, this crafts market features picturesque paper goods and vintage-style tin toys awaiting a Christmas Eve fate. From fragrant cake pans studded with almonds to carefully painted cookie cutouts meant for decoration instead of degustation, the famed gingerbread of this quaint village enchants in its many guises.
The spirit of Christmas has many forms in this bustling town. A delicate gold crown nestles among the blond curls of the Christkindl, the Nuremberg Christmas Angel. This ethereal local beauty enchants children and adults alike with her presence as she solemnly presents a historic prologue christening the market opening in late November. The rows of candy-striped tents in the Hauptmarkt, the main market, hold riches unseen. With local artisans aplenty, a favorite gift is often the Nuremberg plum people—small figurines made of dried plums and dressed in authentic German costumes that fascinate and enthrall.
