Christmas Markets in Krems an der Donau

Krems an der Donau is one of Austria's oldest towns, with documented settlement stretching back over a thousand years. Medieval records reference the town as early as the tenth century. Its position on the Danube made it a significant trading hub throughout the Middle Ages, and wealth from river commerce and the wine trade shaped the handsome architecture that defines the Altstadt today. The town's historic division into Krems, Stein, and the connecting district of Und gave rise to the local saying that these three towns form one. Over centuries, Krems developed a strong civic and cultural identity, reflected in its churches, monasteries, and merchant houses spanning Romanesque through Baroque styles. The Wachau setting creates a distinctive atmospheric quality in winter, when mist rises from the Danube and surrounding vineyards take on a quietly dramatic character.