Weihnachtsmarkt Wernigerode - Breite Straße

The Wernigerode Christmas Market along Breite Straße is part of one of the Harz region's most atmospheric holiday celebrations, set against a stunning backdrop of colorful half-timbered houses and medieval streetscapes in the so-called 'Colorful Town of the Harz.' This pedestrian shopping street comes alive each Advent season with imaginatively decorated Christmas huts and sales stands that create a warm, festive glow throughout the historic old town. Breite Straße forms one of several interconnected market zones that together host more than 60 vendors and restaurateurs across the Marktplatz, Nicolaiplatz, and the Kunsthandwerkerhof. Visitors strolling along the street can browse traditional crafts, seasonal decorations, and regional specialties while taking in the festive lighting — including the iconic Herrnhuter stars that hang above the old town's lanes. The broader market experience includes a film courtyard (Filmhof) in the historic Rathausinnenhof, where classic Christmas films are screened daily, and the enchanting Wernigeröder Lebkuchenwald (gingerbread forest) on Nicolaiplatz, a whimsical area of illuminated Christmas trees and gingerbread figures beloved by families. Live music fills the air daily from the main stage in front of the historic Rathaus, and a Lichterkirche light installation illuminates the Oberpfarrkirchhof with three-dimensional animal figures from the Harz region. The market runs from late November through December 22, with Sunday through Thursday hours of 11:00–20:00 and extended Friday and Saturday hours until 21:00. Entry is free, and the market is easily reached on foot from Wernigerode's main train station or by Citybus — making it a perfect day trip or weekend escape into a truly magical Harz winter setting.