Rostocker Weihnachtsmarkt

* How it all began

The Christmas market in Rostock has a long tradition. The history of the Rostock Christmas market began in the late Middle Ages with sales fairs in the city center in the run-up to Christmas. These sales fairs were a way for people to stock up on everything they needed for the cold season and the upcoming festivities. Farmers and gardeners offered poultry, livestock and winter vegetables. They were joined by craftsmen such as basket weavers, toy makers and confectioners. They wanted to give the children a nice Christmas and so sweet treats such as roasted almonds, roasted nuts and chestnuts were also sold. The traders and the inhabitants of the town benefited equally and so this custom was continued year after year.

* Habit becomes tradition

In 1949, trees from the Rostock Heath were offered for sale on Doberaner Platz and an exhibition of woodcarving from the Ore Mountains in the Baroque Hall attracted numerous visitors. For the first time, the pre-Christmas market was named "Rostock Christmas Market" and advertised as such. The "Rostock Christmas Market" was born. In 1953, it was already possible to speak of a folk festival with merry-go-rounds and other amusements. Even an air swing invited visitors to take a speedy ride. Showmen from Rostock and the surrounding area were present. In 1955, the people of Rostock welcomed Father Christmas and his entourage to the city centre for the first time. In 1956, the Christmas market fun took place at the Ulmenmarkt, and from 1958 for several years at the Glatten Aal.

* Today the biggest in the north!

Rostock's Christmas market has become a major event every year. Once a year, the pre-Christmas glow of lights on the banks of the Warnow and the Baltic Sea transforms Rostock's historic city centre into the largest and one of the most beautiful Christmas markets in northern Germany. Numerous visitors from near and far are expected at the Rostock Christmas market every year. Hotels and guesthouses in the city centre are often fully booked or extremely busy. For years, there has been an increasing number of day and weekend visitors from Denmark, Sweden and, fortunately, also from Poland.

With its food mile, market hustle and bustle, Christmas hype, Christmas stage magic, fairytale forest and festive Christmas tree, the Rostock Christmas market offers highlights for the whole family.

(Source: http://www.rostocker-weihnachtsmarkt.de / Großmarkt Rostock GmbH)

Travel information:

By public transport - Kröpeliner Tor tram stop

By car - Venue: Rostock city centre

Parking facilities:

- CONTIPARK multi-storey car park (Kröpeliner Straße)

- CONTIPARK multi-storey car park Galerie Rostocker Hof (Altbettelmönchstraße 2)

- KTC car park Kröpeliner Tor Center (Lange Str. 39)