Christmas City Marburg

Marburg in Advent

Marburg an der Lahn is one of Germany's most beautiful university cities – with its medieval Oberstadt, the Landgrafenschloss castle, the Gothic Elisabethkirche, the first burial place of St. Elisabeth of Thuringia, and a Lahn riverbank that invites strolls in winter with light installations. In Advent, the city becomes the 'Christmas City Marburg' – a hallmark that the city has consistently cultivated for years.

Two Markets, Two Moods

Unlike many cities, Marburg hosts two parallel Christmas markets with different characters:

• Christmas Market in front of the Elisabethkirche – the larger, more traditional market in front of the Gothic backdrop of the over 800-year-old pilgrimage church. Wooden stalls, regional specialties, arts and crafts, mulled wine, and bratwurst.
• Advent Market in front of the historic Rathaus – smaller, more intimate, nestled within the half-timbered scenery of the Oberstadt. Here, handmade goods dominate, with a focus on regional products and arts and crafts.

Opening on Nov 27 with Marburg by Night

The official opening of the Christmas City takes place on Friday, November 27, 2026 – as part of 'Marburg by Night'. During this city experience, the entire Marburg city center is staged with light installations and light performances: the castle, the Lahn riverbanks, the half-timbered facades of the Oberstadt, the Elisabethkirche. Anyone wanting to experience the most romantic opening variant of an Advent market should come on the opening evening.

Running until December 23

From Saturday, November 28 (the day after 'Marburg by Night') until Wednesday, December 23, 2026, both markets are open as usual. This makes the Christmas City Marburg one of the longest-running Advent markets in Central Hesse.

City Experience Marburg

Marburg is a university city with around 25,000 students – and in Advent, this mix of tradition and student city becomes particularly charming: university orchestras and choirs perform, students sit in the Oberstadt cafes over term papers and mugs of mulled wine, and from the castle park, one looks over the entire city in snowfall. Those seeking Advent magic with a university flair will find it here.