Speyer Twinning Towns Christmas Market

Since 1994 in Speyer City Hall

The Christmas Market of the Twinning Towns has been part of Speyer's Advent calendar since 1994. What began as a small cultural contribution to the town twinning has developed into one of the characteristic events of Speyer's pre-Christmas season. The venue is the historic City Hall on Maximilianstraße — one of the most important secular buildings in Speyer's old town.

Three Town Partnerships, Two Stalls

Speyer maintains several town partnerships — the most important being Chartres (France), Gniezno (Poland), and Ravenna (Italy). At the Twinning Towns Market, the French from Chartres and the Poles from Gniezno are represented. Both have their own specialties and their own atmospheres.

Chartres Stall

Chartres in France is Speyer's oldest twinning town contact. Like Speyer, Chartres has a famous Gothic cathedral that is a UNESCO World Heritage site. At the stall, representatives of the city and French associations offer specialties: sausages from the Chartres region, cheese from French regions, wine, Crémant (French sparkling wine), Champagne from the nearby Champagne region. The choir 'Les Chansonettes' from Chartres performs — French songs bring a Francophone atmosphere to Speyer City Hall.

Gniezno Stall

Gniezno in Poland is the historical first capital of Poland — the coronation site of Polish kings in the Middle Ages. Speyer and Gniezno have been twin towns since the 1990s. At the stall, Polish representatives offer handmade glasswork, knitwear, Polish coffee, and cake. The choir 'Ignami' from Gniezno performs — Slavic choral music shapes this part of the program.

Integration into the Large Christmas Market

The Twinning Towns Market takes place parallel to the large Speyer Christmas and New Year's Market on Maximilianstraße — both events complement each other. Visitors to the large market also visit the City Hall, meet the French and Polish guests, taste international specialties, and listen to the twinning town choirs. It is a lively demonstration of European town twinning practice.