Advent in Luthers Höfen

When 20 Courtyards Open Their Gates

On a Saturday in December, something magical happens in Lutherstadt Eisleben: gates and doors that remain closed all year round open up. Around 20 historic courtyards in the center of this town in the Mansfeld-Südharz district in the state of Saxony-Anhalt transform into small, individually designed Advent markets for one day. Each owner personally decorates their courtyard — one focuses on fairy lights and candles, the next on a campfire circle with mulled wine, the third on live music. The result is a unique Advent magic tour that you won't find in any other German city.

"Advent in Luthers Höfen" is a relatively young event, but it has developed into the secret highlight of the Saxon-Anhalt Advent calendar within a few years. The idea: Eisleben is not only Luther's birthplace and deathplace, but also a city whose inner city has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1996. Behind the half-timbered and Renaissance facades lie courtyards that are normally private — farmhouses, artisan houses, former breweries, burgher houses. By opening their courtyards for one evening, the owners give visitors a look behind the scenes of a World Heritage city — and give the city a unique appearance.

You then walk through the car-free city center — from Plan via Markt through Sangerhäuser Straße and Freistraße to Schloßplatz — turn into a courtyard and enter your own little world. In one courtyard, musicians sit by the campfire and play folk music; in the next, a family sells homemade stollen and Mansfelder sausage; in the third, there is mulled wine made from Saale-Unstrut wine, accompanied by a choir singing under the starry sky. Lights, candles, lamps, fire — Eisleben literally becomes an Advent city.

In parallel, the traditional Eisleber Weihnachtsmarkt (Eisleben Christmas Market) with stalls, a carousel, and a stage takes place on the market square. Combining both events offers a complete Advent evening: first the market on the square, then the courtyard tour through the old town.

An Event with Growth Potential

"Advent in Luthers Höfen" started with a handful of courtyards — in 2025, there were already 20 (five more than the previous year). The event is organized by the municipal market company together with the Stiftung Luthergedenkstätten (Luther Memorial Foundation), which offers its own Advent activities in Luther's Death House. The Luther Museums are also involved. Admission to the courtyard festival is free — no registration required.