Photo: © Christian Metzler
‘Follow the stars’ – to Bad Homburg Christmas is fast approaching: a perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in the Christmassy flair of Bad Homburg, the cosy spa town at the Taunus. ‘Follow the stars’ across the beautifully decorated streets and discover fantastic shopping opportunities, celebrations and even ice skating. The Christmas-loving city is waiting for you. TEXT: MARILENA STRACKE I PHOTOS: STADT BAD HOMBURG
It’s that time of the year again when Bad Homburg shows its most Christmassy side and offers a whole range of fabulous Christmas locations. In the heart of the city, visitors can look forward to the Mayrhofen-Stadl, a Tyrolean chalet inspired by Bad Homburg’s partner town in the Ziller Valley. Here, guests can enjoy culinary delights from Tyrol in an Alpine setting. After a stroll across one of Germany’s largest landscape parks, another highlight awaits: Bad Homburg’s ice winter. Surrounded by historic buildings, a magically illuminated ice rink measuring 500 square metres offers fun for the entire family. Curling challenges, ice parties and the children’s 80 | Issue 80 | November 2019
ice-skating competition are reason enough to get your skates out. With a great love for detail, the Romantic Christmas Market in front of the grand walls of the Landgrave’s castle takes visitors on a wintery journey. Following the magical stars from the castle square to Bad Homburg’s landmark, the White Tower, there are a number of traditional arts and crafts stalls from local and regional exhibitors. The comfortable ChristmasShopping express takes guests and their shopping across the city centre, via the shopping mile Louisenstraße, to the train station. The Christmas market also has plenty on offer for kids, as Ketty Urbani of the city’s
marketing department explains: “A new addition this year is the ‘Fairy-tale land’, where not only fairy tales are being told, but where the children can also craft and paint on turret stones. The popular steam train, which doesn’t just excite the little ones, is also located here.” Every day, the kids’ programme, with fairy tales, crafts and carol-singing, guarantees a lot of fun for children. The culinary side of the Christmas Market offers up classics such as sausages, tarte flambée, chestnuts and waffles, but also includes a range of specialities like oysters, pulled pork, French sandwiches and Icelandic fish burgers. Various walking live-acts ensure musical entertainment, playing anything from classic Christmas carols to blues and saxophone interpretations. This year, there’s also a piano on tour at the market. A little tip: to warm up after visiting the Christmas market, a trip to the Kur Royal Day Spa or the Taunus Therme comes highly recommended. www.bad-homburg.de