Christkindlmarkt Murnau am Staffelsee

Advent Magic on the Staffelsee

Murnau am Staffelsee is located in the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, at the transition from the Pfaffenwinkel to the Werdenfelser Land — one of Bavaria's most scenically impressive regions. With the foothills of the Alps in the background and the Staffelsee directly on the market's edge, the Christkindlmarkt Murnau boasts a picture-perfect setting that is among the most beautiful in all of Bavaria.

Concept and Atmosphere

• Only handcrafted products: Exhibitors are only allowed to sell products from their own workshops or from regional suppliers — no mass imports, no kitsch stalls.
• Living Nativity Scene: A living nativity scene with real animals is a central element of the market.
• Santa Claus in a Horse-Drawn Sleigh: The visit from Santa Claus in a horse-drawn sleigh is one of the iconic images of the Murnau market.
• Alpacas and Children's Carousel: For families, there are alpacas to pet and a historic children's carousel.
• Location Ober- and Untermarkt: The historic market street with its colorfully painted house facades — known from the Murnau works of Wassily Kandinsky and Gabriele Münter — is decorated with fir green and lights.
• Organizers: The Murnau Association Community organizes the market together with the Markt Murnau. In parallel, the hobby artists' Christmas market takes place in the Kultur- und Tagungszentrum.

Federal State and Cultural Context

Bavaria, Upper Bavaria administrative region, Garmisch-Partenkirchen district. Murnau is also a place of remembrance for Classic Modernism — Wassily Kandinsky, Gabriele Münter, Franz Marc, and Alexej von Jawlensky lived and worked here during the crucial years of the Blauer Reiter movement. This cultural depth is palpable at the market: Murnau positions itself as a "cultural hub Murnau," not as a mass tourism destination.