Almost every German city and town puts on an elaborate Christmas market during the Advent season.
The Stuttgart market — held since at least 1692 — is an excellent one. It made The Telegraph’s top 10 list this year.
As I walked around it on Thursday, taking these snapshots with my phone, I wished that I could also capture its wonderful smells: bread and pastry, sausage, and hot spiced wine (Glühwein).
Click on any thumbnail below to scroll through all my (larger) photos and captions.
Looking down Königstraße, a 1.2 km. pedestrian shopping avenue, which begins at the main train station.
Two parallel rows of pollarded plane trees are a feature of the avenue.
A Christmas tree seller.
The trees set in half-log stands.
I bought one of these little trees and carried it home via U-bahn and bus.
The seller was also carving decorative items on the spot.
In this area, most of the stands were selling flowers and greenery.
A wreath seller.
Cut long-stem amaryllis flowers.
Boxes of small apples for decoration.
Ornamental kale.
I meant to buy a pot of two of these amaryllis, but the seller had closed by the time I walked back that way — which is just as well; I could never have carried them and the little tree. A good reason to go back.
Elaborately and expertly decorated roofs are a feature of the stands at Schillerplatz and Marktplatz.
What’s better than an early afternoon glühwein or, in my case, hot spiced wine with honey mead.
This stand sells products from wild boar meat.
At Schillerplatz, in front of the Old Palace.
No, that’s her index finger.
A hat seller.
Christmas stollen.
Everyone wants a mid-afternoon Berliner Pfannkuchen.
Schillerplatz.
At Schlossplatz or Palace Square, there was a miniature train and model city. The ice rink is in the background.
Pretty much a typical southern German small town.
enclos*ure 
This is so lovely! It remains me Brussels in Xmas and Köln, where we spent a week in Xmas few years ago. Glühwein Is really nice but I prefer hot chocolate with whipped cream, that is good! Here we have the Dec’s long weekend and feels like beginning of fall, no signs of winter or rain in a city with dangerous rates of pollution, I myself am with breath problems, hope Paris summit reach immediate actions. Enjoy your weekend!
I am trying to send positive, hopeful thoughts to Paris too! Hope you are feeling better.
Have heard about these markets. Love the roof decorations. Nice armchair tour!
I was so impressed with Stuttgart’s market. But we have several really good fests a year here. The wine fest at the end of August, also downtown, also with an elaborate setup, is especially fun.
I’d rather have those carved wooden display heads, than the hats.
So characterful, as if they would strike up a conversation.
They are great. I wonder if they were made by the other guy with the chainsaw.
Lucky you! Have you ever seen cut Amaryllis stems like those before? Stunning. And I love the contrast of the pollarded street trees with the gorgeously natural evergreen Christmas trees.
I also saw cut Amaryllis in the Basel Christmas market. It makes so much sense to sell them that way. I know I’m not the only one who fails to start the bulbs on time. (I do need to go buy a big tall vase though.)
Such fun!