FOR travellers seeking more than just festive lights and holiday markets, Europe’s centuries-old Christmas traditions offer a journey through time.
From mediaeval town squares to ancient cathedrals, these destinations have managed to preserve an authentic spirit of Christmas from decades and even centuries past, allowing visitors to experience the holiday season as it was celebrated generations ago.
Mediaeval Christmas preserved in time
Walking into Rothenburg ob der Tauber during Christmas is like being flung into a living history book. The preserved German mediaeval town, with its timber-framed buildings and cobblestone streets, hosts one of the most authentic historical Christmas experiences in Europe. The tradition of the Reiterlesmarkt (Christmas market) here dates back to the 15th century, making it one of Germany’s oldest.
Rothenburg also has a Christmas Museum that is open year-round and it houses a collection of historical decorations, with some pieces dating back to the 1600s. In the museum, visitors can learn about the evolution of local Christmas traditions, including the origin of glass ornaments and the development of the Santa Claus imagery from his folklore roots.
