Christmas Market at the Schleswig City Museum

43 Years of Advent Market at the City Museum

The Christmas Market at the Schleswig City Museum was founded in the early 1980s by the association for the promotion of the Schleswig City Museum (Verein zur Förderung des Stadtmuseums Schleswig e.V.) and has since been a fixed date in Advent for Schleswig and the wider region of North Frisia and Schleswig-Flensburg. 2026 marks the 43rd edition — the market has consistently established itself as a quality market: no mass-produced industrial goods, but handcrafted pieces, presented by the manufacturers themselves.

Günderothscher Hof as a Backdrop

The venue is the Günderothschen Hof — the historic inner courtyard surrounding the Schleswig City Museum. The City Museum is housed in several listed townhouses on Friedrichstraße and uses the courtyard as an 'outdoor foyer' during the market. The exhibitors' stalls are spread around the courtyard, with pavilions and marquees offering protection from wind and rain. In the evenings, fairy lights and Advent lanterns are added. The atmosphere is deliberately intimate and personal — the market positions itself as an antithesis to large city center markets.

Arts and Crafts and Advent Gastronomy

The offerings focus on high-quality arts and crafts: ceramics (tableware, Advent figures), jewelry (gold, silver, natural stone), textiles (hand-woven scarves, blankets), wooden objects (toys, candle holders), leather goods, felt, glass. Additionally, there are small stalls with Advent arrangements, fir branches, and winter plants. Gastronomically, the museum's Café Friedrich complements the market with homemade cakes, coffee, and tea. In the courtyard itself, mulled wine stands, grilled specialties, and vegetarian/vegan options provide refreshments.

Schleswig and the Schlei

Schleswig, with around 25,000 inhabitants, is the district seat of Schleswig-Flensburg and is located on the Schlei — Germany's longest fjord. The city boasts an unusually dense museum landscape (City Museum, Gottorf Castle with State Museum and Folklore, Viking Museum Haithabu) and is one of North Frisia's most attractive travel destinations during Advent. The Christmas Market at the City Museum is one of the city's three most important Advent events — alongside the Schleswig City Christmas Market and the Viking Advent Market in Haithabu.