This Just In ...

From the 26th of November through the 22nd of December, 2008, Heidelberg's Old Town is ablaze with the magical lights of Christmas. The romantic, ofttimes (with luck) snowcovered backdrop of the Heidelberg Castle, and the expansive, world renowned Heidelberg Christmas Market, cast a spell of enchantment over the city during the season of Advent. During this four-week period, the Christmas Market, with over 140 special stands distributed over six areas in the Old Town, is open every day from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

"One thinks Heidelberg by day is the last possibility of the beautiful. But when he sees Heidelberg by night, (...) he requires time to consider upon the verdict." So wrote the otherwise more pragmatical Mississippi river pilot Mark Twain in his 1878 book, A Tramp Abroad. To tramp or stroll through Heidelberg during Advent approaches very closely "the last possibility of the beautiful," especially in the evening, when the castle and the Old Bridge are illuminated in a picturesque setting that defies description.

The gateway to the Christmas Market is Bismarck Square. At this traffic hub of public transportation, a variety of culinary stands are nestled. Here begins the pre-Christmas stroll along Heidelberg's Main Street: Hauptstrasse. The first stop along the way is the small but select Christmas Market for handcrafts at the Anatomy Garden, with pottery cups and mugs inscribed in almost every name, amber jewelry from Poland, and wood carvings from Africa. Next comes University Square, which with around 80 stands is the largest of the Heidelberg Christmas Markets.

In addition to handcrafted artworks, stalls for hot mulled wine, and a wide variety of foods for all tastes, here a nostalgic carousel of colourful horses is sprinting to the sounds of Christmas melodies. Around the Square are grouped the Old and the New University with their institutes of the arts and humanities and the University Museum. During leisure and evening hours, the Square is a great meeting point for students. An absolute must on University Square is a cup of original "Heidelberg Glühwein", hot mulled wine, from the stand labeled "To the Merry Christ Child". In addition to the annual Christmas Market cup of the year, this year for the first time a limited edition of 500 Christmas cups by the Rosenthal "Hutschenreuther" label, designed by the Heidelberg artist Frank Schlottmann, will be available for purchase.

Magical, and also Christmasy in the original sense of the word, is the atmosphere on Market Square. On the immense Christmas Pyramid, significant figures from Heidelberg's history turn round and round. The fragrant aroma of almonds and cinammon star cookies wafts through the air. In the "House of Father Christmas", Father Christmas himself awaits his little guests and is happy to join them in a photo. The proceeds are donated in entirety for the benefit of social projects. New this year will be a stand for non-profit organizations and projects, made available at no charge by Heidelberg Marketing GmbH, "in order to emphasize the aspect of concern for others, especially at Christmas," explains Vera Cornelius, Managing Director of the event organizational association Heidelberg Marketing GmbH.

Directly around the corner lies the Corn Market with the Christmas crèche. This Square is especially laid out for the joy of children. Little stalls house a children's zoo where the donkeys and sheep may be stroked and petted, and nearby the "Wilde 13" locomotive makes its rounds. Stands with bio-beekeeping products, wooden puzzles, pullovers, and baskets woven on site, offer their wares for purchase. A tasty alternative to Bratwurst are homemade soups and stews with fresh bread and a warm cup of mulled mead.

Only a few steps further along, the Grande Finale of the Christmas stroll is found on Karl's Square, where an open-air ice skating rink stretches out below the majestic backdrop of the castle. Here skaters have center stage through January 4, 2009 - and ice skates may be rented for a few Euros. At the evening's close, as one lingers over a cup of white or red mulled wine and a snack, the curtain comes down on a scene of enchantment.

The Heidelberg Christmas Market will be ceremoniously opened on Market Square at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, November 26, with the Children's Choir and Heidelberg's Christ Child with his angels in attendance. Special guest this year is the musical ensemble Balandran Noël from southern France. At 6 p.m., chimes ring out to invite visitors to attend at no charge a festive Advent concert for trumpet, choir and organ in the Holy Ghost Church. At 7:30 p.m., skating artists large and small from Mannheim's Ice and Roller Skating Club ERC will open the ice skating rink with a colourful program.

The program of supporting events around the Market is multi-faceted, ranging from a special tour at the castle: "Christmastime at Court", and a Christmas Market tour featuring mystery stories of the season, and a theatrical Advent calendar, to Christmas musicals and puppet shows for children. Additional festivals such as the Heidelberg Theater Days or the French Week offer fascinating highlights, and the many concerts of classical music are an annual focus. This year for the first time, the six foot tall Father Christmas Eumel will bring his acrobatic street artistry into play.

Angela Pfenninger, Events Manager of the mega event is both exhausted and happy. "We are delighted to have put together again this year a Christmas Market of such diversity for large and small guests from near and far. The romantic background of the city is of course an inestimable advantage, for which we are deeply grateful. Now we are only hoping for snow, to complete the panoramic picture and make the mulled wine taste even better.

Read more about visiting Heidelberg at The Heidelberg Schloss and Exploring Old Town Heidelberg