Rottweil Christmas Market

Advent Experience in Baden-Württemberg's Oldest Town

Rottweil, founded around 73 AD, is the oldest town in Baden-Württemberg – and you can feel it especially in December. The almost completely preserved medieval old town with its city gates, walls, and Renaissance and Baroque buildings provides a backdrop for the Christmas market that few southern German cities can offer. The next edition will run from December 4th to 14th, 2026 along the Obere Hauptstraße, the historic main thoroughfare of the old town.

The Opening on December 4th at 6 p.m.

The official opening will take place on Thursday, December 4th, 2026 at 6 p.m. in front of the Rottweil town hall. The mayor, city band, and Advent choir will be featured – the exact program will be announced on tourismus-rottweil.de before the market opens. Afterwards, the stalls along Obere Hauptstraße will open, mulled wine will be served, and the roasted almonds stand will bring the first winter scents.

Stalls, Crafts, Swabian Specialties

The decorated stalls along Obere Hauptstraße offer a classic assortment: Black Forest smoker figures, handmade knitwear and felt items, glasswork, beeswax candles, Advent wreaths, wooden toys. The food stalls are dominated by Swabian specialties: Maultaschen, Bratwurst, Black Forest ham, lentils with Spätzle. Mulled wine, punch, roasted almonds, and crêpes are, of course, available.

Program Highlights — St. Nicholas, Night Watchman, City Museum

On Saturday, December 6th, 2026 from 4 to 6 p.m., St. Nicholas will visit the market – a treat for the youngest visitors. In the evenings, night watchman tours will take place through the old town: a city guide in historical costume, carrying a lantern and halberd, will show you Rottweil's medieval paths and share anecdotes about saints' legends and city history – a classic tourist attraction. The Rottweil City Museum will have extended opening hours and offer short guided tours. Local choirs and Advent choirs will sing several times a day, and the carousel and the KiJu children's workshop (crafting and baking) make the market family-friendly.

The Backdrop — Schwarzes Tor and Hochbrückturm

Rottweil's most famous landmark is undoubtedly the Schwarzes Tor: a medieval tower in the southern part of the old town that has blocked the main street since the 13th century. Together with the Hochturm and the Hochbrückturm, it forms the most striking city gate ensemble in southern Germany. The Christmas market takes place in its immediate vicinity – with the towers illuminated at night, it creates an atmosphere that ranks among the most atmospheric Advent experiences nationwide.

Rottweil in the Rottweil District — State of Baden-Württemberg

With around 25,000 inhabitants, Rottweil is a district town in the Rottweil district in the state of Baden-Württemberg, located at the transition from the Black Forest to the Swabian Jura. The town is regionally known for the Rottweil Carnival (Narrensprung on Shrove Monday – one of the most important in the Swabian-Allemannic Carnival) and the Thyssenkrupp Test Tower, one of Europe's tallest observation towers. The Christmas market adds a contemplative, pre-Christmas component to the town's image as a "city with history.".