Erbach Castle Christmas Market

Advent Market in the Castle Courtyard

The Erbacher Schlossweihnacht is one of the most beautiful castle Christmas markets in Hesse. The venue is the Schloss- und Marktplatz (Castle and Market Square) around the Residenzschloss Erbach, nestled within the medieval half-timbered ensemble of Erbach's old town. The castle itself – the ancestral seat of the Counts of Erbach-Erbach with its famous ivory collections – forms the monumental backdrop against which around 70 market stalls are spread across the area.

Three Advent Weekends

Unlike most large German Christmas markets, the Schlossweihnacht is not open continuously: it runs only on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays over four Advent weekends from November 27 to December 20, 2026. This limitation is by design – it contributes to the contemplative atmosphere. The stalls are more densely packed, the mood is less hectically touristy than at big-city markets, and the locals of Erbach themselves use the weekend for their own Christmas shopping.

Lighting Ceremony on Opening Night

The official opening takes place on Friday, November 27, 2026, at 5 PM by Mayor Dr. Traub. Three program points are traditionally combined: the lighting ceremony of the Schlossplatz (with illuminated angel figures), the balloon flight award ceremony (winners of the balloon flight competition launched in spring are honored), and the Santa Claus reception. The lighting ceremony marks the beginning of the Advent season in Erbach.

Musical Program

The musical program of the Schlossweihnacht is traditional yet varied. Alphorn players, trombone choirs, and various ensembles perform at different locations over the three weekends. In the town church, the community offers meditative musical services titled “Adventslichter” (Advent Lights) on Saturdays. City tours through the old town and castle courtyards provide historical context.

Family Program

There is a special program for children: children's theater “TATÜT”, children's choir performances, and a living nativity scene with real animals. The illuminated angel figures, scattered across the Schlossplatz, are a permanent highlight for the youngest visitors.

Erbach – the Ivory and Odenwald Town

Erbach is the district town of the Odenwald district, a small town with a great tradition, home to around 14,000 inhabitants. Erbach is known for its ivory carving (today from mammoth bone), the German Ivory Museum, and the Residenzschloss with the world-famous collections of Count Franz I. zu Erbach-Erbach. The medieval old town with its narrow half-timbered streets is one of the best-preserved in the southern Hesse region.