November, 2010

The Striezelmarkt in Dresden is one of Germany’s oldest documented Christmas markets. Over the centuries it has developed into a huge event with 250 stands, taking up a large part of Dresden city centre and lasting throughout the Advent period. The word Striezelmarkt comes from Strüzel or Stroczel, which was the name of a type of cake sold at the market, now famous as Stollen or Christstollen. At the centre of the Striezelmarkt stands a 20m high spruce, brought from the nearby Tharandt woods and decorated with lights. At the back of the market square there is a painted wooden fairy-tale castle which is also a giant Advent calendar. A door is opened every day by children’s entertainers, with a puppet show, and on Fridays there is a visit by Father Christmas himself.
Today the most famous features of Dresden Striezelmarkt are the world’s largest usable Christmas arch with a breadth of 13.5 metres and a height of more than 5 metres and the 14-metre high Erzgebirge Christmas pyramid
Situated on the Dresden Striezelmarkt is a children’s adventure world. Here, the prune chimney sweep’s cottage and the bakery are open for kneading and arts and crafts. Furthermore, there is the puppet theatre, merry-go-round and a children’s railway.
On the Dresden Striezelmarkt a daily stage programme takes place. On the Advent weekends are special events like Dresden Stollen Festival and Pyramid and Christmas Arch Festival.
The 17th Dresden Stollen-Party takes place Saturday 4th December 2010. Before the festive first cut of the giant Stollen, which is scheduled for 12.15 p.m., there will be a traditional Stollen parade through the Baroque city centre of Dresden.
Yet, before you will dive into the romantic Christmas madding in Dresden, take part in one of our special Christmas Tours. At its end a little surprise awaits you!
(K. Michael)