The Reading Warehouse

Europe has many wonderful old traditions, and one of them is the Christmas market.

Salzburg in Austria is one of the best places to go for quality and variety. Here we show you no less than three different markets.

One market is by the magnificent Baroque cathedral. Another by Andr kirche and the third out at Hellbrunn Palace, where the Bishop-Prince used to reside.

Salzburg was an independent mini-state ruled by a Bishop-Prince until the Napoleonic wars.

You can still feel this self-contained grandeur in the magnificent Baroque architectural pearls of Salzburg city.

Christmas markets became a medieval tradition in German speaking lands and ushered in the four week church festival of Advent. In nearby Munich, Germany the Christmas market is first mentioned in 1310. There is only 150 km to Munich here from Salzburg.

The Christmas market in Salzburg - "Tandlmarkt" - was held in the cathedral square since the 15^th century and the market has food, drink and all minds of seasonal items from open-air stalls accompanied by traditional singing and dancing.

From the 17th century it was called Nikolaimarkt (St Nicholas Market) and was held from two weeks before St Nicholas Day (6 December) until two weeks after.

It was one of the most famous Christmas markets along Vienna, Paris, Nuremberg and Amsterdam. The present market organization celebrated 45 years in 2018.

Today almost all Christmas markets have a program of processions, Christmas music and entertainment. In Austria a brass band playing local music is a must. There are also other activities such as workshops where you can see traditional handicrafts. Salzburg also has an ice rink by the cathedral.

Out at Hellbrunn Palace there is a petting zoo for the children.

See the local schedule.

Winter sports are close by