Christmas Garden at the Franco-German Garden

A Park Becomes a Christmas Fairy Tale

The Franco-German Garden (DFG) in Saarbrücken, with its 50 hectares, pond, Gondoletta cable car, and water cascade garden, is an extraordinary place all year round. On the first weekend of Advent, the state capital Saarbrücken transforms it into a real Christmas stage: fairy lights stretch across paths and bridges, the pond reflects the glow of the stalls, and songs from the floating Sparkassen-Wasserbühne (Sparkasse Water Stage) can be heard through the trees.

Over 160 Stalls and a Medieval Christmas Market

Around 160 exhibitors are spread along the park paths: mulled wine stands, handicrafts from Saarland and the neighboring Lorraine region, crêpe stands (the proximity to France is immediately noticeable culinarily), roasted almonds, regional cheese and sausage specialties, and a variety of small gift ideas.

A highlight is the medieval Christmas market with a blacksmith, candle maker, jugglers, and market stalls from another era. In addition, walk-on acts and acrobatic performances offer small surprises along the way. New in recent years: a nostalgic Ferris wheel, from which you can look over the park and the festively illuminated pond from a height of 18 meters.

Children's Program with Heart

Families will find a dedicated area in the Christmas Garden: St. Nicholas's study, a scout camp, a living nativity scene, singing and dancing in the orchestra shell, a scavenger hunt with elves, and an elf workshop for crafting. The concerts in the orchestra shell and on the water stage are spread throughout the weekend and are free to attend.

More Than a Classic Market

Unlike the Saarbrücken Christkindlmarkt on Bahnhofstraße, which is open throughout the entire Advent season, the Christmas Garden lasts only three days – which is part of its special charm. The concept thrives on the natural park as a backdrop: in the darkness of the winter evening, an atmosphere arises between fir trees, water cascades, and fairy lights that cannot be found anywhere else in the Regionalverband Saarbrücken (Saarbrücken Regional Association).