643rd Bautzen Wenceslas Market

Germany's Oldest Officially Documented Christmas Market

From November 27 to December 22, 2026, the stalls of the 643rd Bautzen Wenceslas Market will stretch from the Hauptmarkt along Reichenstraße to Kornmarkt — right through the medieval old town of the Upper Lusatian city in the state of Saxony, in the district of Bautzen. Market rights were granted to Bautzen as early as 1384 by King Wenceslas IV of Bohemia, and this tradition has been maintained with only a few interruptions ever since. This makes the Wenceslas Market the oldest officially documented Christmas market in Germany — older than the famous Dresden and Nuremberg markets.

Sorbian-German Atmosphere

Bautzen is the capital of the Sorbs — a Slavic minority people who have lived in Upper Lusatia for centuries. This cultural dual identity also shapes the Wenceslas Market: you will find Sorbian specialties alongside Saxon-German Christmas cuisine, Sorbian egg decorations next to Erzgebirge nutcrackers, Herrnhut stars above bilingual street signs. Around 80 traders and restaurateurs offer regional specialties: Bautz'ner mustard, Pulsnitz gingerbread, Sorbian wedding soup, Pflaumentoffel, Lusatian mulled wine, freshly baked Stollen.

Venues in the Old Town

The market extends over several historic squares: The central stalls are located on the Hauptmarkt in front of the baroque town hall, the craft and art stalls are in Reichenstraße, and the stage program and a large pyramid stand are at Kornmarkt. The medieval towers of the old town — Reichenturm, Lauenturm, Wendischer Turm — form a unique backdrop. The market unfolds its full magic especially at dusk, when the city lights and the Herrnhut stars illuminate the alleys.

Arts and Crafts and Tradition

The Wenceslas Market traditionally focuses on quality: Erzgebirge wood carvings, Lusatian glass, Sorbian traditional dolls, handmade candles, wooden toys, nativity figures. Pulsnitz gingerbread — Germany's only protected designation of origin for gingerbread — is baked on-site and comes from the nearby Pulsnitz bakery tradition. Bautz'ner mustard (a condiment produced in Bautzen since 1866) is also available in several varieties. Families will find a carousel and childcare; Sundays and Wednesdays are family afternoons with a program.

Bautzen — City of Towers

Bautzen is located about 50 km east of Dresden, in Upper Lusatia. The city with almost 40,000 inhabitants has one of the best-preserved medieval old towns in Germany, crowned by 17 towers and gates. During the market, you can book city tours, visit the Sorbian Museum, or climb the Old Waterworks — from there, you get a unique view of the old town bathed in lights.