German Xmas markts anyone ?

Xmas

Dear John.
We would love to go where in Germany and when
Terri
 
we go on the 7th Dec for 1 week visiting ......

Valkenburg in Holland (xmas markt in a cave)
Aachen
Monschau
Wittlich
Trier

Google any of those places and meet us for a beer !!!
 
We are thinking of going and originally planned over xmas but then realised that we would miss all of the markets so we may go the week before.

Has anyone spent xmas in Germany? Perhaps in the Mosel area - Trier etc.. I have loads of questions:-

Whats the xmas atmosphere like after the markets have finished?
Does everything close for holidays?
Are the stellplatz open?
Will the water be on?
Availability of bottled gas - we have Le Cubes and Calor bottles - will we need to buy a german bottle or can we get Le Cube refill? (Not wanting to go down the Gaslow route yet!!)
What are the public holidays in Germany over xmas?
 
most of the stelleplatz are open but the weather can get very cold very quickly so water may be a problem, great xmas markt at "Bernkastel-kues" (on the mosel) and stelleplatz near town centre also Trier, but not much happening on the mosel, the best markts are as above and not far from the Belgium border. If you don't mind the drive (approx 3hrs from Cochem) try "Herrenhalb" near Baden-Baden (Black forest area) a small town with a thermal swimming pool (very hot), stelleplatz is 10 Euro's a day but you get a free bus pass into Baden-Baden (2 adults)- great markt there.
I have the valve to fill my uk gas bottles (ebay) but some people dislike them and think they are dangerous but that topic is for another forum, I carry 2 x 13kg bottles and refill if needed with autogas with this I can leave heating on low for a full week= 1 bottle. Apart from the markts Germany goes into "sleep-mode" and you'll find most towns very quite and little happening !

ps... please don't get started on the gas valve issue because it goes on for ever n ever and loses the main thread.
 
Went to a couple last year,the Aachen one is very good but the Goslar (in the Harz area) market was just food,mainly the big german suasages.Lovely little place to visit but for those that want to ski it's not really worth a visit,I think the higgest point was only 600 metres so the runs are short.
 
The Harz mountain region is worth a visit but not for it's markts but for the scenery, the little town of Braunlage is the ideal venue because it has an all year open stelleplatz including heated toilets and showers, the skiing is fantastic but snow chains/winter tyres are a must !

Stellplatz-Braunlage
 
zipnolan said:
most of the stelleplatz are open but the weather can get very cold very quickly so water may be a problem, great xmas markt at "Bernkastel-kues" (on the mosel) and stelleplatz near town centre also Trier, but not much happening on the mosel, the best markts are as above and not far from the Belgium border. If you don't mind the drive (approx 3hrs from Cochem) try "Herrenhalb" near Baden-Baden (Black forest area) a small town with a thermal swimming pool (very hot), stelleplatz is 10 Euro's a day but you get a free bus pass into Baden-Baden (2 adults)- great markt there.
I have the valve to fill my uk gas bottles (ebay) but some people dislike them and think they are dangerous but that topic is for another forum, I carry 2 x 13kg bottles and refill if needed with autogas with this I can leave heating on low for a full week= 1 bottle. Apart from the markts Germany goes into "sleep-mode" and you'll find most towns very quite and little happening !

ps... please don't get started on the gas valve issue because it goes on for ever n ever and loses the main thread.
Click to expand...

good for you on refilling gas :)


i have been to xmas markets in E Germany, Dresden some years ago.......

been to one here, it was lousy, i spoke german to the stall holders for them not to understand a word, turned out to be english and poles.........

Never been to any in W Germany. infact i always go over to the East side :)
 
Will one need Snow chains and winter tyres if in Germany at Xmas Market time of year ?
 
vindiboy said:
Will one need Snow chains and winter tyres if in Germany at Xmas Market time of year ?
Click to expand...

depends what the weather is at that time of year :)

Germans have to use winter tyres from Oct. they work better at lower temps.

I have been in Germany in bad schnee storms, and i guess they help a bit, never used chains.....
 
Hi cooljules, is it not the case that everyone has to use winter tyres in Germany during the winter or pay fines if causing obstruction by skidding, blocking roads etc and NOT having winter tyres on their vehicles?
This is a genuine enquiry.
 
New Rover said:
Hi cooljules, is it not the case that everyone has to use winter tyres in Germany during the winter or pay fines if causing obstruction by skidding, blocking roads etc and NOT having winter tyres on their vehicles?
This is a genuine enquiry.
Click to expand...

Hi. what i remember from years ago, i could be wrong, as myself never lived in germany in the winter. if a german doesnt have winter tyres, and a accident, the ins is either null or wont pay out. as i said, i could be wrong.

Again i have driven to Germany many many times, but never in the winter, so wasnt something i looked into legally. If i had the money, winter tyres are something i would go for, due to the much lower temps, rather than risk of snow.

Here last winter i went everywhere in my BMW when we had that bad snow, never stopped me, now would i have driven the same in my VW LT35?? nope....at least not on the hills and cities. Germans do a better job of clearing snow etc though.
 
You must have winter tyres in Germany-it's the law, 80 Euro fine if not fitted or you can have summer tyres but have snow chains ready to use, this means if snowing the chains go on ! although I carry snow chains in winter I shall be buying some snow tyres next time I go (they're cheaper over there)
 
I had winter tyres on my trip last year but had to use chains more than once,the snow was piled up over 5 ft high at the side of the road. If you are going through Belgium try to find an AUTO 5 store, I got two sets for about 40 euros.
 
Thanks for the informative replies folks.
Sorry I went a bit off topic.
 
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