Stuttgart Christmas Markets – Germany Walking Tour – 4K with Captions
Merry Christmas and welcome to Stuttgart, the 6th largest city in Germany and one of the best places for Christmas markets! We begin our walk in Schlossplatz, the city’s largest square. On the right is the Königsbau, home to the local stock exchange from 1991 to 2002.
Stuttgart’s Christmas markets have been held for over 300 years. The Stuttgart Christmas Market was first mentioned in a document in 1692. From this pretty bandstand, you get a framed view of one of Stuttgard’s most famous buildings. The monumental New Castle, or Neues Schloss, was built between 1746 and 1807.
Christmas markets were already being held in German-speaking areas of Europe in the late Middle Ages. Gingerbread is a traditional product in German Christmas markets and these little hearts make a great gift! Children love Stuttgart’s Christmas market for its charming miniature train!
The little train winds through a wintery landscape billowing steam and hooting. This is an example of a Christmas Pyramid, one of the most famous features of Germany’s markets. You can climb up this one to get a great view of the market.
Smaller versions of the pyramid are used as decorations in German homes at Christmas time. The tiers rotate, driven by the heat of candles rising up into a rotor at the top. And of course, there’s always an ice rink! The Old Castle, or Altes Schloss, was originally built in the 10th century.
It now houses the Württemberg State Museum tracing Swabia’s history from the Stone Age to the present. The Christmas markets continue beside the castle, which gives them a truly fairytale setting. Stuttgart’s Christmas markets welcome 3.5 to 4 million visitors annually.
There are around 200 stalls, including market traders, merchants and operators of fairground rides. This stall sells traditional ceramic products beautifully painted with intricate designs. Stuttgart’s markets have been striving to be more environmentally friendly in recent years. Stadtwerke Stuttgart has been supplying the Christmas market with green electricity since 2014.
As a result, the Stuttgart Christmas Market has saved more than 600 tons of CO2 over the three years. If you are enjoying this tour, please give the video a like and share it with a friend. Thank you!
Here you can see some examples of Christmas pyramids for people’s houses decorated with figures from the Nativity. Food and drink is a very important feature of Christmas markets! You’ll find stalls selling typical products like maultaschen, a kind of giant German ravioli, or bratwurst. This stall sells another classic, spit-roasted ox.
You’ll also find countless stalls selling Glühwein, or mulled wine, perfect for keeping you warm. In the 10th century, this castle was the residence of the Counts and later some Dukes of Württemberg. This arcaded courtyard of the castle shows architectural motifs of the early Italian Renaissance.
Although Germany’s Christmas markets are very old, the first ever are thought to originate in Vienna in 1296. In Vienna in 1296, Duke Albrecht I ruled that residents could hold 14 day fairs during the month of December. These are flammlachs, meaning blazed salmon, a dish that originates in Finland.
In the centre of the square is an equestrian statue of Kaiser Wilhelm I. Here, you can try your hand at curling! It’s more difficult than it looks! The 13th century markets weren’t actually related to Christmas or religious themed, but they clearly began a trend.
Winter markets also sprung up in Germany in the 14th century. Christmas markets began to spread across Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries. Christmas markets haven’t changed all that much. In the past they also sold baked goods and hand-made gifts.
Christmas markets declined in the 19th century as they had to compete with department stores selling cheaper, mass produced Christmas products. In Germany, Christmas markets were actually revived by the Nazi regime in the 1930s.
After the Nazis moved the Berlin market back to the city center, it attracted 1.5 million visitors in 1934 and two million two years later. The Nazis also imposed rules on the goods sold at markets, which could only be related to the festivities.
Each year, there is a competition for the most beautiful stall roof decoration, could this be a contender? Under the Nazis, Christmas markets could only sell products like tree decorations, gingerbread and German foods like bratwurst. Christmas markets declined again during World War II but were quickly revived after the conflict.
Christmas markets first began to become extremely popular attractions in the 60s and 70s. Stalls here also sell intriguing antique items. Although Stuttgart’s market was first mentioned in 1692, its roots go back much further. An official market privilege is known to date back to 1507.
In it, Duke Ulrich of Württemberg grants the town of Stuttgart the right to collect stall fees at the annual fairs. Now, stalls sell everything from wooden toys to jewellery to traditional sweet treats. Fleischkäse, which translates as “meat-cheese”, is a kind of sausage similar to Italian mortadella.
Here is another stunning example of a Christmas pyramid with the Nativity figures turning around. Hot crepes filled with chocolate or jam are another excellent pick-me-up in the cold weather. You can see there are plenty of stalls vying for recognition as the most beautiful!
The origins of this market square date back to 1304. As you can see from the architecture, however, nothing is left from that era as it was bombed during WWII. Ahead is the Markthalle, or market hall, built in the early 1900s in art nouveau style.
Stuttgart’s markets are even home to a few animals like this adorable donkey! Alongside the stalls, Stuttgart’s markets feature daily live concerts, a large children’s fairyland with nostalgic carousels. This incredible stall is topped with a miniature version of some of the city’s most important monuments. This stall wins the Christmas jumper award though!
Last year, the winning stall also featured miniature version of Stuttgart landmarks Second place went to a stall with Santa Claus riding in a carriage through a winter landscape. In other years, stall roofs have featured mechanical reindeer, giant teddy bears and life-sized Christmas trees.
Here are more typical meats and cheese that you can find at the market. Along with the miniature train, children can enjoy hands-on activities like baking classes. Another popular sweet treat is chocolate-coated fruit like bananas.
A lot of the buildings in this area dates from the 20th century, and the city was criticised for not rebuilding historic buildings after the war. The production of the sweet, spiced gingerbread dates back around 600 years in Germany. It became associated with Christmas as early as the 17th century.
Here, you can buy scenery and figures to set up your own elaborate Nativity scene at home. Gingerbread men and women were created in Russia to replicate guests at parties. Gingerbread houses were introduced about 200 years later when the Grimm brothers wrote Hansel and Gretel.
This year, the Stuttgart Christmas Market is running from November 29 to December 23. Thanks for watching! Merry Christmas!
This walking tour around the Christmas markets of Stuttgart, Germany was filmed on Thursday December 15th, 2022 starting at 4:58 PM at Schlossplatz
🗺️Map of the Walk – https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1xojt_cp_5JZ1noienKSgmzvLfUrabvs&usp=sharing 🗺️
🔻𝗩𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸𝘀🔻
0:00 Intro and Map
0:52 Schlossplatz
14:44 Christmas Market Entrance
16:19 Schillerplatz
24:14 Old Castle
26:57 Karlsplatz
33:15 Schillerplatz
45:49 Marktplatz
48:27 Sporerplatz
51:38 Marktplatz
✔️Let’s connect✔️
➤Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Prowalks
➤Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prowalktours
➤E-mail: travel@prowalks.com
================================================================================
🌎Complete List of Walks: http://www.prowalks.com/videos 🌎
📢 𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲! 📢 – https://www.youtube.com/c/ProWalks?sub_confirmation=1
🔷 Help with a donation! – https://www.paypal.me/Prowalks 🔷
🔶 Support me on Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/Prowalks 🔶
🟥 Become a Member – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNzul4dnciIlDg8BAcn5-cQ/join 🟥
👕Merchandise – https://teespring.com/stores/prowalk-tours 👕
================================================================================
🔷THE EQUIPMENT I USE🔷
Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/prowalktours
🎥Camera1: Gopro Hero 11 https://amzn.to/3ivHgdJ
🎬Gimbal1: INKEE Falcon Plus https://amzn.to/3JWdgzF
🦯Camera Monopod: https://amzn.to/3rFzPCl
🎥Camera2: Sony a7siii:
Camera Lens: https://amzn.to/3UtuZUm
🎬Gimbal2: https://amzn.to/3FsDye5
🎤Microphone: https://amzn.to/3lYW5CI
🎧In-Ear Monitors: https://amzn.to/2DBdS1D
🎦Drone: https://amzn.to/3jYMiuR
For the best viewing experience, be sure to watch on a large smart TV like the Samsung Frame. Closed Captions [CC] which include historical facts and descriptions are available in all languages. This tour was filmed using amazing Binaural Audio 🎧 which is a method of recording sound that uses two microphones, arranged with the intent to create a 3-D stereo sound sensation for the listener of actually being there.
No part of this video may be used for personal or private use without written permission from Prowalk Tours. I will not remove a copyright strike after one has been issued.
#ProwalkTours #Walkingtour
26 Comments
Less crowd scanning and more looking inside booths please!
Really very amazing place 👋
Seeing all of the middle easterners that obviously try to avoid being filmed is very telling.
Stay safe Germany.
Hello there, Happy Sunday🛎
"Это видео действительно гармонизирует звук и изображение, создавая прекрасную работу!"
Thank you so much 🎉❤
I’m from NY and this market is amazing. I would love to visit during the holidays! Thank you for uploading these videos ❤
Herzlichen Dank! Was für ein Geschenk. Wohne ich doch schon lange nicht mehr in Stuttgart und vermisse den Weihnachtsmarkt sehr. Also Glühwein kochen und weiter schauen.
Magnifique vidéo sur le marché de Noël de Stuttgard ! Quelle féérie ! Les décors des stands de Noël sont si beaux ! Merci pour toutes les informations historiques des marchés de Noël de la ville de Stuttgard. 🎄🎅🎁❤️🤶🕯️🙏
I just wodering, Thursday Dec 15th ? My place, Thursday Dec 14th.. are calender for each country is different?.. just imagine..😊
Viel danken fur diesen fantastic videos!!
Feliz Navidad desde Canarias.
so many black winter jackets.
🍋🍒 click I love you deven
Thanks!
Nice job. We used to visit the Christmas-market quite often. A nice way to refresh memories.
❤💙
Какая красивая музыка!Можно слушать целый день в любое время,при выполнении повседневных дел,на душе становится радостно,спасибо большое!Дай Бог вам всем здоровья!
I was there 39 years ago. Great place
Hello 🎉Merry Christmas
Ist der Rundgang von diesem Jahr? Oder haben die Kollegen am Schillerplatz bloss ein Jahr lang vergessen ihre Werbung für "Berauschend Okt22-April23" wieder abzunehmen??
Have been to the Stuttgart markets frequently and your video was a terrific walk down memory lane. Thank you and well done.
The little tunnel was a nice touch for the little train ride.
Ебать. Вас что реально прикалывает такой движ ? ммда .
the sound my Diarrhoea makes after too much Schnitzel. STUTTGART!!!
I’m American, but my ancestry traces back to Stuttgart. They left because they wanted to get away from the Kaiser. People in Germany now live in a free and democratic society. But, you’re in danger of demographic decline because you aren’t having enough children. I pray that Germany remains a free and democratic nation and continues to live in peace with its neighbors and that all of Europe continues to support Ukraine. And I also pray that Europe never falls back into what it was for centuries before 1945. One day I would like to visit and see the beautiful things like this that places like Stuttgart has to offer. Merry Christmas and happy new year from America. 🇺🇸