German Christmas Museum

How we celebrate Christmas – the German Christmas Museum in Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Couple with nutcrackerRTS, Respondec

Christmas trees in the Christmas villageKäthe Wohlfahrt Christmas Village

Nutcracker in the Christmas villageRTS, Schöbel

Why is Rothenburg ob der Tauber also considered the Christmas capital of Germany? On the one hand, there is the Christmas market in the center of the old town during Advent. The fact that this reputation lasts all year round is due to Käthe Wohlfahrt's Christmas Museum. In the Herrngasse Located above Käthe Wohlfahrt's Christmas shop, it shows the Origin and further development of Christmas customs. Historic Christmas trees, Christmas tree decorations and candle arches can be seen here. In front of the entrance to the Christmas village, an oversized nutcracker and a red historical bus with presents invite you to stop for photos.

Christmas and its origins

Reiterlesmarkt in RothenburgRTS, Pfitzinger

The Christmas Museum of Rothenburg ob der Tauber explains, how Christmas used to be celebrated in Germany and how certain customs developed in different regions of the country. There are also insights into the Craft traditions, which go hand in hand with the specific form of German Christmas decorations - wood carvings and glass blowers. Geographical centers of these craft activities can be found primarily in Thuringia, the Ore Mountains and the Bavarian Forest. Company founder Wilhelm Wohlfahrt, who himself came from Vogtland, once imported the goods across the inner-German border in order to sell them from Rothenburg ob der Tauber to guests from all over the world. Today, over 200 employees work permanently for Käthe Wohlfahrt.
Christmas – a German festival

Nutcracker in the Christmas villageRTS, Schöbel

The exhibition in the Christmas Museum focuses on Christmas as a German festival. When were the first Christmas trees? Where does that come from? Tradition of the Christmas tree actually? And did you know that? Weihnachtsmann wasn't always a nice person who brought presents for the children? In the Christmas Museum in Rothenburg ob der Tauber you learn: In addition to venerable traditions, there was also an advertising industry and the commercialization of the Santa Claus their fingers in the game. This also becomes clear during a visit to the Christmas museum: the decorations on the Christmas tree and the festive ornaments such as the nutcracker are often decoupled from their original meaning.
After the museum we go to the Christmas village

Christmas tree in the Christmas villageKäthe Wohlfahrt Christmas Village

This is what going into the museum is like for many visitors to the museum Christmas Village by Käthe Wohlfahrt firmly anchored in the program of a visit to Rothenburg. The Christmas shopping paradise is located directly below the museum rooms; over 12.000 items for the Christmas tree or the festively decorated table can be found here.

Christmas Museum opening hours

For current opening times, please refer directly to the museum pages below: www.weihnachtsmuseum.de

We use cookies when they are strictly necessary for the operation of the website. For all other purposes and data transmission to external providers, we need your consent. You can revoke this here at any time. For more information see our Privacy policy.

Video deselect all Videos are embedded via external providers. Third-party cookies may be set when content is displayed. YouTube Vimeo
Map We use map material from OpenStreetMap to display an interactive map.
Translation The translation function is provided via GTranslate.
Statistics We use the web analysis tool Matomo for anonymous statistical evaluation. This information helps us to understand how visitors use our website.
Other deselect all We have integrated additional services from external providers. Third-party cookies may be set when content is displayed.