Parsberg Castle Christmas Market

Christmas Market at the Medieval Castle

The Parsberger Burgweihnacht is an insider tip among the Upper Palatinate Christmas markets: it takes place not in a classic market square, but within the festively lit walls and in the castle garden of the medieval Burg Parsberg. The impressive castle complex – one of the best-preserved hilltop castles in the Upper Palatinate – towers over the small town of Parsberg in the Neumarkt district of the Upper Palatinate and forms a unique backdrop for the Advent market.

Arts and Crafts, Culinary Delights, Castle Romance

Around 30 stalls gather in the castle courtyards: Upper Palatinate arts and crafts (wood carvings, pottery, alpaca products, honey, Christmas tree decorations), candle makers, nativity scene builders, beekeepers. At the food stalls, you can find wild boar burgers, raclette, mulled wine, punch, Hungarian specialties, and candied almonds. The town's associations – fire brigade, sports clubs, parish – run the stalls independently, ensuring authenticity.

Program with Symphonic Music, Dance, and Perchten

The castle stage features a changing program over the weekends:

• Symphonic Wind Orchestra Parsberg at the official opening on Friday evening
• Contributions from kindergartens, primary schools, and school choirs from Parsberg and the surrounding area
• Dance groups (often show dance and folk dance)
• Perchtenlauf of the 'HöllenFürsten Oberpfalz' on Friday evening around 8:00 PM – frightening masked figures in traditional Upper Palatinate customs, who parade through the castle market
• Hunting horn blowers
• Readings, Advent songs, and festive performances

Burg Parsberg – Medieval Landmark

Burg Parsberg was built in the 13th century and is one of the most impressive hilltop castles in the Upper Palatinate. Today, it houses a museum and event halls and is located very close to the parish church. The castle complex with its walls, courtyards, and the view over the Schwarzes Laber valley gives the Burgweihnacht a special, almost historical flair – like an Advent market in the 17th century.

Parsberg in the Upper Palatinate

Parsberg, with around 8,000 inhabitants, is a small town in the southern district of Neumarkt in the Upper Palatinate, located on the A3 motorway between Nuremberg and Regensburg. The town's economy is based on agriculture, medium-sized businesses, and tourism. The Burgweihnacht has established itself as a regional attraction over the past 16 years – visitors come from the Upper Palatinate, Middle Franconia, and northern Lower Bavaria.