There are many fairytale Christmas markets in and around Munich that you can visit during Advent. But one of them is actually inspired by the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm and immerses you in a fantastic magical world. A magical village is created around the castle in December, taking you on a wonderful journey.
The castle of a real prince
The castle is located near Lake Ammersee and was built back in 1292. Over the centuries, it changed hands again and again until it finally came into the possession of the Wittelsbach family, including King Ludwig III, in 1954. His great-grandson, Luitpold Prince of Bavaria, is the current owner of the castle and lives there with his family. The König Ludwig castle brewery is also based in the building and produces around 100,000 hectoliters of beer every year.
Today, Schloss Kaltenberg near Geltendorf is no longer just the residence of a noble family, but also a popular venue for events. The Kaltenberg Knights’ Tournament, which Prince Luitpold himself initiated, takes place here every year. Since 2016, you can also visit the PULS Open-Air festival here in summer and enjoy three days of live music on five stages. During Advent, the Kaltenberg Castle Christmas market is of course the absolute highlight.
A Christmas market like a fairytale village
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lv-R_KiugbI
During Advent, the grounds around Kaltenberg Castle are transformed into a magical fairytale world inspired by the Brothers Grimm. The high roofs and pointed turrets of the stalls and huts have a medieval feel, while the fairy lights bathe everything in a warm glow. Many of the huts and places on the site are based on the Grimm fairy tales, which is also revealed by their names. They include Mrs. Holle, Little Red Riding Hood, the Frog King and the clever farmer’s daughter. Many live performers await you to make the immersion in the fairytale village perfect. Santa Claus and Perchten will also be at the Kaltenberg Castle Christmas Market.
In addition to the usual delicacies and vegan treats, a cheese fondue menu awaits you in the Bräustüberl, which you can order for groups of four or more. You have to book this in advance to be able to enjoy the three courses. If you want to burn off a few calories afterwards, head to the ice skating rink and do your laps on the ice. You can hire skates on site for one hour for €5. You are not allowed to bring your own skates.
If you’ve had enough of skating, check out the varied program on one of the five stages instead. Here you can listen to fairy tales and even take part in them yourself, enjoy live music or marvel at acrobatic shows. The puppet and shadow shows will make children’s eyes light up and the fire shows will delight young and old alike. Last but not least, there is also a small carousel, a touch and feel box for the curious among you and a nativity scene.
Your visit to the Kaltenberg Castle Christmas market
From Munich, it takes around 55 minutes by car to get to Kaltenberg Castle Christmas Market. Parking spaces are available and you don’t pay an additional parking fee. You can also take the train or the S4 towards Geltendorf and then change to the bus. Finally, you can walk for about a quarter of an hour or take the shuttle bus directly from Geltendorf station. However, this costs €4.10 per journey and neither MVV nor Deutschlandtickets are valid here.
The Kaltenberg Castle Christmas Market takes place on all Advent weekends from Friday to Sunday and also on the weekend after Christmas Eve. If you didn’t have time to visit the market in the run-up to Christmas, you still have the opportunity for a Christmas family outing.
You will need tickets to visit the Kaltenberg Castle Christmas Market. You can purchase these online in advance or buy them on site. However, €2.50 is added to the price at the box office, so it is worth ordering online. For early and late entry, adults pay €12.50 online and young people €6.50, but you are bound to certain times. If you want to be more flexible, buy flex tickets for €15 or €7.50 for young people. Children up to 15 years visit the market free of charge.
📍 Location: Kaltenberg Castle, Schlossstraße 10, 82269 Kaltenberg
📅 Dates: Friday to Sunday on all Advent weekends and December 26 to 28
💶 Price information: From €12.50 for adults and €6.50 for young people aged 16 and over