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A Christmas Market … Lakeside (Seeweihnacht)

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Festive twinkle light adorned market booths sit along side of the picturesque alpine lake, Schliersee. Its dramatic backdrop of snow capped mountains. This is Mother Natures holiday decorating at its best. The air, fragrant with all the magical scents of a traditional German Christmas market. From mulled warm wines, to the cinnamon spiced candied nuts. All these sights and sounds help create the magical atmosphere of this lovely little market.

Seeweihnacht in Schliersee is the first Christmas market to start off the 4 Advent weekends of fabulous holiday festivities. Held on the 2 and 3 December in the Kurpark am See located near Vitalwelt. You can come by car or by train as the market is a short walk from the train station. It is a great alternative to sitting in holiday traffic.

What is wonderful about these small town local Bavarian Christmas markets is they are so intimate. Each both contains gifts that are created by loving passionate hands. You won’t find plastic or mass produced items from lands far away at this market. These are handmade gifts destined to become heirlooms. From the foods to the Christmas ornaments, each item is uniquely special.

Each year the ladies of the Frauenbund from the Catholic church in Schliersee work tirelessly preparing the most fantastic array of German Christmas cookies called “Plätzchen”. You have to arrive early to make sure you get a box as they go quickly. Definitely worth making a trip to savor a few of their delights.

Families have gather around in the firelight listening to Christmas carols while wagging dogs snuggle with warmly bundled children since the first days of this market. Eyes bright with age old Christmas cheer. This is a timeless image of small Bavarian village tradition. Visiting these local markets is where you truly can experience an old time German Christmas market feeling.

Some of the great highlights for the whole family are the horse and carriage rides which are held on Saturday and Sunday at 2 pm till 5pm.  Alpine brass Christmas music fills the air every day of the market starting at 8 pm and a very special visitor greets the merry makers at 5pm when Nikolaus arrives in all his Christmas glory.

 

 

This is a market that can’t be missed. It’s a great finish to a long day on the slopes.

 

Opening times:

Saturday 2 December from 2pm till 8pm

Sunday 3 December from 12 till 8pm

 

Address:

Kurpark Schliersee

Perfallstr. 4

83727 Schliersee

 

 

Laura Boston-Thek

American artist, photographer and professional wanderer who, after 20 years of roaming, put down roots in a 100 year old Bavarian farmhouse and fell in love with the Alpine village and its residents (both 2-legged and 4-legged).

 

 

 

Sankt Nikolaus is coming… put your shoes out!

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So have you been naughty or nice? On the eve of December 5th, all across Germany, excited children put their shoes outside so Sankt Nikolaus can fill them with wonderful gifts and treats. It is traditionally the shoes are filled with items like oranges, various nuts, chocolate coins and possibly cookies like cinnamon spiced Speculaas.

On December 5th in Schliersee, Old Sankt Nik likes to do things a bit different and with a bit of an alpine flair. In Schliersee, he might fill your trusty old hiking boots with local Almkäse or mountain cheese produced high on the mountain by one of our local farmers from our happy cows. Or he might tuck in a beautifully hand carved wooden Edelweiss from one of our many talented wood carvers.

I awoke bright and early on this crisp and sunny December morning to find my much loved and much tested hiking boots filled with local hiking magazines, some maps, fresh fruit to tuck in my pocket for when I headed out on my daily wander. And as an added bonus brand new trekking poles to provide stability and motivation throughout the year. Last but not least a beautifully printed Schliersee lens wipe which Old Nikolaus must have purchased at our local tourist office.  Just perfect for wiping off the bitter water spray which always coats my lenses while photographing the icy Neuhaus waterfall.

This year I must have been very good because I did not receive a visit from Krampus, who is Nikolaus’ evil looking helper. He must have just passed me by. Phew! Better luck next year Krampus.

 

Laura Boston-Thek

American artist, photographer and professional wanderer who, after 20 years of roaming, put down roots in a 100 year old Bavarian farmhouse and fell in love with the Alpine village and its residents (both 2-legged and 4-legged).