Celebrate Christmas in Germany on the Danube

While we were on an AmaWaterways river cruise, we breezed quickly through Germany but I managed to take a few noteworthy photos. We were traveling during the holidays and the theme of our cruise was the Christmas Markets.

As you can imagine, there’s is nowhere that captures Christmas festivity quite like Germany. We stopped briefly in several German villages but the two main German excursions were to Regensburg and Nürnberg.

Regensburg is known for its Romantic Christmas Market at Thurn und Taxis Castle and Nürnberg has one of the largest Christmas markets in Germany.

For more details on our river cruise on the Danube, click on the links below:

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Regensburg

One of the first stops on our tour of Regensburg was the Historische Wurstküche. It’s known as one of Germany’s oldest “fast food” restaurants. The building was erected where the restaurant stands today in 1135 AD as a construction office for the bridge.

Oldest sausage restaurant Regensburg, Germany — Inside the Historische Wurstküche. sausage restaurant – Regensburg

After the bridge was completed in 1146 AD, the building became a restaurant called Garkueche Auf dem Kranchen (cookshop under the bridge) It was constructed in the 17th century but there is archaeological evidence that the original building had similar dimensions. In 1806 it became a restaurant for charcoal-grilled sausages that is still in operation today.

Below are just a few of the photos we took while we were in Regensburg. To view them full-size click on each image to open up the gallery.

Regensburg Sausage Stand — Wurstkuchl – Regensberg

A merchant tower in Regensburg, Germany — Wurstkuchl – Regensberg

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The Thurns and Taxis Christmas Market in Regensburg, Germany is romantic and whimsical. You don't want to miss it. — Thurn und Taxis Christmas Market

Nürnberg (Nuremberg) Germany

Nurnberg Christmas Market - Germany Travel Photo Gallery — Nurnberg Christmas Market

The old city of Nürnberg (also spelled Nuremberg) dates back to 1050 AD. It was once referred to as the “unofficial capital” of the Roman Empire. During the 15th and 16th centuries, it became the center of the German Renaissance. The city was extensively damaged during WWII and was the site of the Nuremberg Trials. It was rebuilt after the war to the way it was pre-war and some of its medieval buildings were reconstructed. Others were lost forever.

The Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt opens the first Sunday of Advent and is one of Germany’s oldest markets. The first recorded mention of it was in 1628 but it may have started as early as 1530. The symbol of the market is Christkind, who is the traditional giver of gifts at Christmas in Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Liechtenstein, Hungary, Slovakia, and Switzerland. She looks like a golden angel and has blond hair and wings.

The market hosts many booths of vendors selling decorations, delicious German food, and warm Gluhwein. (warm mulled wine) Popular decorations that are sold at the market are Zwetschgenmännle, which are tiny people made with dried prunes.