Buying Christmas gifts underground. Make a wish in a Christmas forest. Drink mulled beer. Or see a Christmas post office. You can do this and more around Christmas time in the 9 historic towns in Lower Saxony:Braunschweig, Celle, Göttingen, Goslar, Hameln, Hanover, Hildesheim, Lüneburg and Wolfenbüttel. For a winter city trip with the best Christmas markets, a few hours' drive from the Netherlands.
1. Celebrate Christmas underground at UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Goslar
Ex-mining town of Goslar has special places to get into the Christmas spirit. Such as the idyllic half-timbered farmhouse (with restaurant) Brunnengarten and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Rammelsberg Mines, which are dressed in Christmas atmosphere. On December 14 and 15 you will take an underground tour by candlelight in the old mines and there is a Christmas market below and above the ground. Alternate with the traditional Christmas market with artisan gifts in the Market Square and a climb up the clock tower of the Marktkirche.
2. See Europe's largest Christmas wreath in Lüneburg In December, the salt and Hanseatic city of Lüneburg also has the largest Christmas wreath – Wichernkranz – in Europe in addition to "the largest pub density in Germany". It hangs on the Water Tower that you climb during the 'Illuminated facades' tour. Together with the Christmas market in front of the old town hall, illuminated churches and a fairytale route through the entire center, the perfect backdrop for Christmas shopping.
3. Taste mulled beer in Göttingen
Forget traditional mulled wine, in the student town of Göttingen mulled beer, heated barley liquor, is the ultimate winter drink. They serve the specialty at the atmospheric Christmas market on the market square where there are 80 nativity scenes with the old town hall and the Gänseliesel fountain as a backdrop. Also fun:a ride on the historic Ferris wheel and tours through the underground vaults of the city.
4. Experience musical and theater in Pied Piper City Hameln
Turn a winter weekend in Hameln into a cultural outing. With the musical Die Päpstin about the legendary female Pope Johanna, the theater performance about the Pied Piper in Museum Hameln or a Christmas concert in the Marktkirche St. Nicolai. Can be combined with the Christmas market in the historic center and an Advent trip by boat on the River Weser.
5. Toast with a Mumme in the moat of Braunschweig
A bestseller in the Middle Ages:the Braunschweiger Mumme. A strong, malty drink that, thanks to a lot of alcohol and sugar, lasted extra long and protected sailors against diseases. Now you drink this drink in a lighter, heated version during the Advent season. On anchored rafts in the moat of Dankwarderode Castle or at stalls on the Christmas market around the Dom.
6. Experience Celle as the best Christmas town of 2018
The more than 700-year-old Celle, voted the best Christmas town in Germany, will be even bigger in 2019. The entire city is immersed in Christmas atmosphere. From the traditional Christmas market in the Altstadt, shops with Christmas windows, the 14 meter high Christmas pyramid to the imposing Schloss Celle. Sustainable tip:on December 26 there is a large gift exchange market.
7. Make a wish in the Christmas forest in Hanover
From 190 stalls in the traditional Christmas market around the Marktkirche, the Lister Meile shopping street, to the Finnish-style Christmas village on Ballhofplatz. Hanover offers not just one, but a variety of Christmas markets. In the meantime you walk along the 'Wunschbrunnen-Wald', a Christmas forest with a wishing fountain plus a golden ring. Legend has it that wishes come true when the ring is turned.
8. Send a card from the Christmas post office in Hildesheim
Germany's first Christmas post office was opened in 1967 in Himmelsthür, a district of Hildesheim. This office, which receives a lot of mail with 'To Santa Claus', is located among the stalls on the historic Platz an der Lilie Christmas market. There you can start the Christmas season with a Pumpernickel – Christmas rye bread with cinnamon and almonds – and buy special handicrafts for in or under the tree.
9. Stroll through romantic courtyards in Wolfenbüttel
Wolfenbüttel is preparing for a special Advent season in December. For example, on weekends, six beautifully lit courtyard gardens open for Christmas, there is a Christmas market in the Residenzschloss and the traditional Weihnachtsmarkt in the center. For the necessary warmth in the dark days before Christmas, there are Jägermeister tours on December 2, 9 and 16.
10. Spot the VW factory chimneys as XXL candles in Autostadt Wolfsburg
Autostadt Wolfsburg is the partner city of the 9 cities and a stronghold of design, classic cars in the ZeitHaus car museum and a glimpse into the future of racing cars. The 'city' turns into a winter wonderland in December with a winter market and ice shows of size. Nice to see are the chimneys of the old VW factory that transform into XXL candles on the Advent wreath.
Overview dates Christmas markets 2019:
Braunschweig 27-11 to 29-12
Celle 28-11 to 29-12
Göttingen 25-11 to 29-12
Goslar 27-11 to 30-12
Hameln 27-11 to 30-12
Hannover 25-11 to 22-12
Hildesheim 25-11 to 29-12
Lüneburg 27-11 to 23-12
Wolfenbüttel 26-11 to 23-12
Winter market in Autostadt Wolfsburg 29/12/2019 – 5/1/2020
Information per city and about the Christmas markets can be found at www.9staedte.de/en/
Photo:Christmas Market Göttingen c) Göttingen Tourismurs Gerhardts
