Christmas markets in Germany

WE ARE PLANNING A TRIP TO EUROPE OVER CHRISTMAS WITH OUR 6-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER AND WOULD LIKE TO VISIT SOME CHRISTMAS MARKETS, POSSIBLY IN GERMANY. ANY SUGGESTIONS?

T. ARMITAGE, NEWCASTLE

Germany is ground zero for Christmas markets, and it is only fitting that Berlin has more than 50. Pick of the bunch is the Kaiser Wilhelm Gedächtniskirche Market, centred around the Gedächtniskirche, the Memorial Church, at one of the city's main shopping arteries. As well as the hand-carved, cuddly and cute that are the staple Christmas market fare, Berlin brings its own edgy awareness to the business with contemporary works by designers and artists. Along with the essential mulled wine, sausages and sauerkraut, expect artworks and an eclectic selection of antique and contemporary jewellery.

The oldest Christmas market in Germany, Dresden's Striezelmarkt, takes its name from the local striezel or stollen, the fruity cake-loaf that is Germany's own Christmas cake. Among the goods for sale are pflaumentoffel, good-luck charms made from dried plums, representing the small boys once employed as chimney sweeps. Christmas pyramids, textiles, gingerbread, filigree lace products from Plauen, blown-glass tree decorations from Lauscha and candleholders from the Erzgebirge Mountains are among the goods for sale.

If you want something smaller, Mittenwald is a picturebook Bavarian alpine town, set against the soaring rock wave of Westl Karwendelspitze. Obermarkt, the main street, is lined with houses with folk-art scenes painted on their shuttered facades, along with wooden balconies and carved gables. Goethe called it "a picture book come alive," and the Christmas market here is a beauty. At an elevation of around 1100 metres, Mittenwald is almost guaranteed a white Christmas. Access is easy since the town lies on the main train line between Munich and Innsbruck, with frequent services in both directions.

Whichever you choose, check dates carefully. While the Christmas markets in the cities are open for most of December, those such as Mittenwald might only operate for a few days.