Dortmund Christmas Market


The Dortmund Christmas Market is an annual outdoor Christmas market held every year in central Dortmund, Northrhine-Westphalia, Germany. With more than three and a half million visitors of 300 stalls it is one of the biggest Christmas markets of the world and brings tourists from all over the world to Dortmund. It is estimated that the city benefits of a 100 million Euros profit from this 38-day-long tradition.
The Christmas tree of Dortmund Weihnachtsmark is the largest natural Christmas tree in the world.

History

The market's origins date back to 1878. There were no markets between 1939 and 1948. In recent years, Dortmund Weihnachtsmarkt has become the largest Christmas market in the Germany, hosting well over 3.5 million visitors annually.
The Christmas market opens in late November and continues until just before New Year's Eve. It occupies a large area in central Dortmund, including Alter Markt around the St. Reinold's Church, Hansaplatz, Kleppingstraße, and Westenhellweg.

Vendors and attractions

Today the most famous features of Dortmund Weihnachtsmark are the world's largest Christmas tree with more than 45 meters. The tree is made of 1,700 spruces from Sauerland. Twenty huge candles and 48,000 lights shine over the Christmas market. The top is decorated with a four-meter-high angel. The total weight of this structure at a height of 45 metres is 40 tons. Foundation laying with glühwein and bratwurst will take place on 23 October at 4 p.m. at Hansaplatz. Workers needed four weeks to assemble the red spruces.
Throughout Dortmund opened three Christmas markets, each of which is surrounded by souvenir stalls, a carousel and a Nativity scene installed and its local tree. Europe's largest Medieval Christmas Market can be found at Fredenbaumpark in the north of Downtown which takes place from 23 November every weekend. Here, there is a rustic atmosphere, live music, culinary delights and gift ideas, as well as a Christmas atmosphere in the torchlight.