Christmas Market at the Old Castle Penzlin

Advent Season at the Old Castle

The Old Castle Penzlin on Warener Chaussee is considered one of the oldest preserved lowland castles in Mecklenburg – its origins date back to the 13th century, with parts of the current complex built on a Slavic predecessor. Today, the castle serves as a museum and event venue, known primarily for its permanent exhibition on witch hunts. Once a year, on the second Saturday of Advent, the castle courtyard opens for a small Christmas market that clearly sets itself apart from the large urban markets in the region.

What Makes the Market Special

The market is one-day and manageable: around 20 to 25 stalls in the courtyard and adjacent vaults, open from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The offerings range from pottery and ceramics from Mecklenburg workshops to knitwear and felt items, wooden decorations, fairy lights, as well as honey, jams, smoked fish, and regional game. Many stalls are operated by vendors from the immediate surrounding area between Penzlin, Mölln, and Neubrandenburg – a market with a workshop character, not event catering.

Music and Children's Program

The Penzlin brass band traditionally kicks off the musical program with Advent carols. Throughout the day, smaller performances follow – choirs from surrounding villages, sometimes a reading. For families, there are two fixed program points: the star workshop, where children can craft Advent decorations, and a puppet theater in one of the vault rooms. Santa Claus visits in the latter half of the day.

Refreshments by the Village

The catering is almost entirely in the hands of volunteer associations: the Volunteer Fire Department, the Friends of the Old Castle Association, the Parish Community, and sports clubs share the stalls. Mulled wine, punch, bratwurst, pea soup, waffles, homemade cakes – very classic, very North German Advent cuisine, with proceeds going to the club treasuries and the castle's renovation projects.

A Market with Identity

Anyone traveling through Mecklenburg-Vorpommern during Advent knows the large Christmas markets of Rostock, Stralsund, or Schwerin. The market at the Old Castle Penzlin operates on a different level – smaller, more village-like, with a clear identity linked to the region and the castle itself. Those who want to discover the Penzlin region, a gentle hilly area between the Mecklenburg Lake District (Landkreis Mecklenburgische Seenplatte) and the Neubrandenburg Basin, will find an Advent day here that is made by the village for the village, welcoming outsiders as honored guests.