It is one of the most spectacular Christmas market locations in Germany: Table Mountain Königstein with its famous fortress in Saxon Switzerland.
Here, around 250 metres above the Elbe and in the midst of an impressive ensemble of important architectural monuments, the "Historic-Romantic Christmas Market: Königstein - A Winter's Tale" traditionally invites you to get into the Christmas spirit during Advent.
As in the old days: a market straight out of a picture book
The Advent market is a nostalgic experience: the stalls are built on site from wooden slats and fabric panels in keeping with historical models. The traders wear traditional costumes. Goulash soup and fortress punch steam in large copper pots over open fires. Puppeteers entertain the children. The chain carousel is hand-operated. And the stage programme also celebrates the traditional and handmade with music and fairytale plays.
The pre-Christmas hustle and bustle not only extends across the Paradeplatz, but also includes historical buildings on the almost 100,000 square metre fortress plateau: Visitors can experience the first attraction in the 60 metre long vaulted walkway of the complex with the "SterneDom", a unique light and sound installation with 70 Herrnhut stars. The old barracks from 1589 are transformed into Germany's longest Advent calendar at 112 metres. From 1 to 24 December, a little door is opened every day. An electoral table with original Meissen porcelain can be marvelled at in the baroque Friedrichsburg. In the small garrison church, cantors from the region play organ music. Fairytale figures can be discovered in the fortress forest. A film project from Saxon Switzerland is shown in the Pulverkasematte. And in the underground vaults, the Kasematten Christmas invites you to stroll under the stars with additional market stalls.
New: additional opening hours
This year, there will be an atmospheric start to the pre-Christmas period with the Friday "After Work Advent". Regional craftsmen forge, turn and carve for visitors, live music invites you to swing and dance along, a bathhouse is set up on the Paradeplatz and people meet at the market stalls and fireplaces for kettle goulash and mulled beer.
"Königstein - a winter fairy tale" will be celebrated on Saturday, 2 December with the cutting of the ribbon. December with the cutting of the fortress stollen - this year performed by actor and cabaret artist Tom Pauls - and from then on invites you to visit on Saturdays and Sundays during the Advent season from 11 am to 7 pm and Fridays from 2 pm to 7 pm. After Christmas, the market will open again from 27 to 30 December. Admission to the Advent market is included in the entrance fee to Königstein Fortress. This varies depending on the day of the week. A visit to the museum's diverse exhibitions is also included.
