Historic Christmas Market at Diesdorf Open-Air Museum

A Christmas Market with Patina

Some Christmas markets are mere consumer backdrops. And then there's the Diesdorf Open-Air Museum. Here, in the far north of Saxony-Anhalt, almost on the border with Lower Saxony, stands Germany's oldest ethnographic open-air museum, founded in 1911. Over 20 historic residential and farm buildings – farmhouses, barns, granaries, bakehouse, post mill – are gathered on about six hectares, showcasing rural life in the Altmark from the 17th to the 20th century. Once a year, on the third Advent weekend, the museum opens for its Historic Christmas Market.

Atmosphere Instead of Mainstream

Instead of plastic stalls, there are wood fires in the bakehouses, craftspeople at work, spinners, blacksmiths, basket weavers. The rooms of the old houses are festively decorated, and the post mill smells of freshly ground flour. Between the farmsteads, the aromas of mulled wine, bratwurst, and stick bread cooked over open fires waft through the air. Live music is provided by musicians from the Altmark region, often by the light of oil lamps. Children can make candles, bake cookies, and experience the live nativity play in the late afternoon.

Location and Getting There

The Open-Air Museum is located at Molmker Straße 23 in Diesdorf, a village in the Altmarkkreis Salzwedel district (AGS 15081) – in the state of Saxony-Anhalt, but culturally deeply rooted in the Altmark Heath. In snowy weather, the grounds look like a film set. The nearest larger town is Salzwedel (approx. 25 km), Hanover is about 100 km to the west, and Magdeburg 130 km to the southeast.