Köthen Castle Christmas

Christmas in the Bach Town

Köthen (Anhalt) holds a very special place in the German cultural calendar — because between 1717 and 1723, Johann Sebastian Bach worked here as court kapellmeister for Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Köthen. Here he wrote the Brandenburg Concertos, the English Suites, the Well-Tempered Clavier (Part I) — works that are now part of the canon of world music. The baroque castle, which Bach used professionally, hosts the Köthen Castle Christmas once a year on the third weekend of Advent: a small, atmospherically dense Christmas market that combines the history of the house with the magic of the Advent season.

The inner courtyard of the castle and the nearby Steinhaus (a Renaissance building from the 16th century) are the two main venues. In the castle courtyard, around 40–50 traders and craftsmen set up their small wooden stalls — no mass-produced goods, but high-quality Advent products: wood turners from the Erzgebirge, glassblowers, felt and wool work, incense products, candle makers, honey, jams, gingerbread, stollen, toys. Between the stalls, there are small stations with mulled wine, children's punch, bratwurst, crêpes, and candied almonds.

The atmosphere is enlivened by fairy tale characters who wander through the courtyard in costume — Snow White, Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel, Mother Hulda, the swineherd. A real fairy tale procession is the highlight of each day: costumed actors parade across the grounds with lanterns and drums, read from fairy tale books, and perform short scenes. On Saturday evening, Santa Claus visits the castle courtyard, distributes sweets, and poses for photos with the children.

The Steinhaus expands the program: concerts with Advent music take place here during the day — sometimes Bach works (fitting for the town!), sometimes Renaissance and Baroque ensembles, sometimes Advent songs with choirs from the region. Readings, craft workshops for children, and small theatrical performances are also part of the program. Those who are lucky may experience a concert in the impressive acoustics of the historic hall.

Castle with Bach Connection

Köthen, a town in the Anhalt-Bitterfeld district in the state of Saxony-Anhalt, had great cultural influence in the 18th century as the residence of the Principality of Anhalt-Köthen. The castle, a Renaissance/Baroque complex that has been extensively rebuilt, is now home to the Köthen Castle Foundation and houses museums, concert halls, and exhibition spaces. The Castle Christmas is therefore not just an Advent market — it is also an occasion to experience the historic ambiance, think of Bach, and be carried away by the history of the Anhalt-Köthen residence. Free admission.