You don't have to give up on shopping when you leave the city behind. Quite the reverse: in the country, the charm is in the different regional specialities and products, from epicurean delights to handmade treasures. Lovers of quality Christmas decorations will undoubtedly be familiar with the artistic little angels made by Wendt & Kühn from the toymaker village of Seiffen in the Erzgebirge mountains. The Thuringian Forest is well known for the art of glass-blowing, especially the little village of Lauscha. The "Glass Route" runs through the Upper Palatinate Forest and the Bavarian Forest, linking the traditional glass-making villages.

Christmas decoration, christmas spices, "Glühwein" .. and much more regional traditions and specialities can be experienced on over 2,500 Christmas markets in Germany. Wonderful settings invite to share in the joy of the pre- Christmas season and to enter into Germany's special festive mood.