Bisingen Christmas Market

Once again, the "Showcase of Handicrafts" beckons

Unique gift ideas crafted by artists

A crowd-puller from Stuttgart to Lake Constance

Often imitated – never equaled

Considered the most beautiful village Christmas market in the region, it draws thousands of shoppers and spectators every year for over three decades to the Nikolaus community by the Klingenbach. On the second Sunday of Advent, December 8, the "Showcase of Handicrafts," as the Bisingen Christmas Market likes to call itself, will open again for one day.

For many years, artists and art lovers alike have eagerly awaited the second Advent. Then the Bisingen Christmas Market opens, offering them the opportunity to showcase their exhibits to knowledgeable audiences or – conversely – to purchase unusual and unique gifts, eyecatchers, or decorations for loved ones, themselves, or their cozy homes.

The market looks back on a unique success story. Its basic concept has remained unchanged since its birth in 1987 – and that is its winning formula. Small and charming, it first appeared with only two dozen artisan stands and just a single obligatory mulled wine booth. It was a modest attempt to bring a pre-Christmas atmosphere to the parish community.

The concept quickly found wide appreciation. The market became increasingly well-known among enthusiasts and grew rapidly to a respectable size. Today, it occupies the entire town center with the marketplace, church square, and main street. It could grow even more, but it doesn’t want to and shouldn’t. Quality over quantity is its motto.

This sets it apart from events in neighboring communities that share the same name, "Christmas Market." It repeatedly earns praise as the finest of its kind far and wide. Its excellent reputation stretches from Stuttgart to Lake Constance and from Freiburg to Ulm. From this catchment area, it draws several thousand visitors to Bisingen each year on the second Sunday of Advent.

Exhibitors especially appreciate the absence of commercial bustle and the preservation of an atmosphere fitting the pre-Christmas spirit. Visitors, in turn, praise the artisanal quality, originality, and exceptional variety of items offered. Expert chats, curious conversations, and mutual inspiration also characterize the scene, giving the Bisingen market its special charm.

Organizers are almost tempted to forgo advertising altogether. Word of mouth and friendly buzz among exhibiting artisans and art-loving visitors have long taken care of promotion.

On December 8, sales start at 11 a.m. and end at 6 p.m. Mayor Roman Waizenegger has taken patronage of the event.