Romantic Princely Christmas Greiz

Princely Journey Through Time at the Lower Castle

The Romantic Princely Christmas transforms Greiz's Lower Castle into a vibrant backdrop from the 18th and 19th centuries on a single Advent Sunday. The castle, a former residence of the Princes Reuss Elder Line, now houses the museums of the castle and residence town of Greiz. For the Princely Christmas, the entire court is revived: staff and participants appear in faithfully recreated costumes—ladies-in-waiting with hoop skirts, servants in livery, children as little princes and princesses. The castle rooms become an immersive theatre of a princely Christmas celebration.

Historical Fashion Shows, Concerts, Puppet Theatre

The program is dense and detailed. Historical fashion shows take place in the Wandelhalle and the state rooms—showcasing faithfully recreated festive dresses, uniforms, and robes from the Reuss era. In the historic ballroom, Christmas concerts are held: court music from Baroque to Romantic—Bach, Mozart, Mendelssohn—performed at the highest musical level. For children, there is a puppet theatre with a classical repertoire. Between program items, you can discover gifts from "princely court suppliers"—artisan stalls in the castle grounds—or engage in crafts and making with the children.

"Heißer Bischof" — The Princely Punch

A special specialty of the Greiz Princely Christmas is the "Heißer Bischof": a warming punch based on an original recipe by Greiz court confectioner Müller from the 18th century. The punch is prepared with bitter oranges, red wine, spices (cinnamon, cloves, cardamom), and a secret family recipe—and is served only once a year: at the Romantic Princely Christmas. In the Christmas café in the Princely Gallery, you can enjoy the "Bischof" with homemade cakes and coffee, while outside the Advent atmosphere continues to unfold in the historic castle gardens.

Greiz — Castle and Residence Town in the Vogtland

Greiz is one of Thuringia's most beautiful castle towns—the former residence of the Principality of Reuss Elder Line, located in the far east of Thuringia on the border with Saxony and Bavaria. The town has three castle structures: the Upper Castle on a rock above the town, the Lower Castle as a Baroque residence building on Burgplatz, and the Sommerpalais in the Princely Greiz Park. The latter was laid out in 1799 as an English landscape park and is considered one of Thuringia's most beautiful parks. The Princely Christmas is an opportunity to experience all of this at once: the princely castle interior, the historic atmosphere, and the winter Vogtland between the Ore Mountains and the Thuringian Forest.