Situated in the Eifel region of western Germany, near the Belgian border, this pretty town is so cute you just have to include it on your travel bucket list. Especially during Christmas time. Monschau is known for its medieval centre, with half-timbered houses, narrow cobblestone streets and slate cladded houses.
You will find many cafes, restaurants and souvenir shops in the village and the Rur River runs through the town making a peaceful picture.
Really you can visit this town any time of year and you will love it. In my opinion it is definitely worth a visit during Christmas time when the whole village transforms into a magic land.
In 1999 this pretty town received the accolade for having one of the most beautiful Christmas Markets in Western Germany.
The market is not huge but it stretches from Richters Eck, via the Market Square with its beautiful Christmas tree and on to the Patere Höfje, behind the Aukirche church.
The market usually takes place the 4 weekends before Christmas.
If you are as much in love with Christmas as I am, you will simply love the Christmas House with its magical Christmas look and which sells decorations on all 3 floors. This is a Christmas fanatic’s dream come true and a must visit. (Apparently they are open from March to December, so you can visit at other times of the year as well.)
If you are not staying in Monschau, do arrange your travel to have enough time for sight-seeing as well as shopping and stay later in the evening. You simply have to experience the Christmas carols being played, sipping on a glass of mulled wine, while enjoying the magical Christmas atmosphere created by the beautiful twinkling lights.
For more up to date information about times and exhibitions, visit their Christmas Market Website to ensure you have the latest information.
You might also want to read our article on The beautiful Oberammergau in Germany.
The nearest airport is in Cologne: 100 km from Monschau
As there is no train station in Monschau, it is best to rent a car. However if you are going to the Christmas market, parking might definitely be an issue and I would recommend then rather going by bus or very early by car and spending the day.
Monschau has quite a lot of pretty restaurants with the majority serving traditional German dishes and most of them are located in the old town, in the streets surrounding the market square.
Here are a few biking trails leading through the village – a perfect summer activity:
If you would love to stay in the town during Christmas, you need to make reservations well in advance as they are very quickly fully booked.
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