ANNO 1280 Wyhnacht — Medieval Christmas Market

Journey Through Time into the Year 1280

ANNO 1280 Wyhnacht is no ordinary Christmas market. Even the entrance through the time tunnel makes its ambition clear: those who enter leave the 21st century behind and travel back centuries. The concept of the medieval 'Wyhnacht' consistently foregoes modern lighting, mulled wine huts in industrial design, or pop music — instead, torches, fire pits, hurdy-gurdy sounds, and market calls in Old German. The setting is the historic Rittergut Kruse in the Gütersloh district of Isselhorst, which provides the ideal backdrop with its old walls and park.

5 Hectares of Medieval Market

The market unfolds across approximately 5 hectares: dozens of market stalls with artisans (blacksmiths, potters, leatherworkers, glassblowers, bow makers), traders offering mead, mulled wine, honey wine, sausages, roasted almonds, and medieval baked goods. Camp islands with real reenactors in historical clothing. Three days of action between market stalls, camps, and the stage.

Program — Music, Jesters, Snow Queen

The supporting program continuously offers atmospheric entertainment: medieval musicians with hurdy-gurdy, bagpipes, shawm, and harp; jugglers and jesters with fire and sword shows; storytellers and fairy tale narrators for children. The Snow Queen is the thematic hostess — a majestic figure who walks through the market and enchants visitors. The program changes over the three days and is included in the admission price.

7th Edition — An Established Medieval Format

2026 marks the 7th edition. ANNO-events has established the format in Gütersloh over the past years — the 'Wyhnacht' has become one of the most visited medieval Christmas markets in Westphalia. The organizers jokingly promise snow guarantee — but medieval atmosphere is guaranteed, regardless of the December weather in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Gütersloh-Isselhorst and the Münsterland Region

Gütersloh is a medium-sized city in southern Münsterland with about 102,000 inhabitants — home to Bertelsmann and Miele, located between Bielefeld and Münster. The district of Isselhorst is in western Gütersloh, characterized by its rural nature, with Rittergut Kruse as a cultural-historical anchor point. The 'Wyhnacht' attracts visitors from the entire Gütersloh district, Bielefeld, Münster, and the Ruhr area.