Christmas market (Striezelmarkt) Dresden 24th November to 28th November 2025
24.11.2025
On Monday, 57 jumeleurs, including 6 French guests from Amiens and Narbonne, travelled to Dresden. We stayed at the Hotel Ibis on Prager Straße, ideally located for a variety of activities. We were within walking distance of many internationally renowned sights such as the Baroque Zwinger Palace, , the Frauenkirche, the the Old Masters Picture Gallery and the Green Vault. The first day offered time for a first tour of the city.
25.11.2025
We began the morning with a short guided tour, starting from the hotel towards the old town. We walked past the Striezelmarkt as it was being set up for its opening, making our way toward the center. A guided bus tour of the city followed, which also took us past the 'Blue Wonder' bridge, and we received plenty of information about the city. The first stop on the opposite side of the Elbe was at the Schwebebahn (suspension railway), built in 1901 and designed by the same inventor who planned the Wuppertal Schwebebahn).
The suspension railway took us 84.5 meters above the town. In good weather, you have a magnificent view over the old town and its historic buildings. We also made a short stop at the Pfunds’ Dairy in Dresden; with its ornate, hand-painted tiles, it is widely renowned as the most beautiful dairy shop in the world. Various sweets and stollen changed hands. The tour ended with a visit to the 'Dresden 1900' museum restaurant for coffee and Eierschecke (a Dresden cake specialty). Warmed up and refreshed, we then had free time for museums and shops.
26.11.2025
Free time in the morning.
The meeting point was shortly before noon at the Frauenkirche. The devotion was followed by a short, impressive organ concert and an introduction to the history of the Frauenkirche and its reconstruction.
In the afternoon, there was enough time to continue exploring the city. In small groups, it was now possible to visit the Christmas markets that were already set up, even though the official opening did not take place until the evening. Our dinner was brought forward so that opera-goers could enjoy "Turandot" (Puccini) at the Semperoper on time at 7:30 pm. Dressed up for the occasion, all visitors spent two wonderful and impressive hours immersed in love and tragedy.
27.11.2025
Today the Striezelmarkt invited visitors to come. In addition to visiting museums or strolling around, a tour on an excursion boat on the Elbe was on offer, passing the castles located on the riverbanks. Many of the participants joined the cruise to bid farewell to Dresden in a beautiful evening atmosphere. 
After dinner, some took the opportunity to visit the Striezelmarkt with the aim of “liquidating” their Striezeltaler (1 taler = 1 euro) or buying a souvenir.
28.11.2025
Return journey and farewell. Satisfied faces, happy about the reunion and the wonderful days spent in Dresden. Thanks to Doris Barthel, who had already organized these days in 2021, but which had to be cancelled at short notice due to Covid. Now a complete success.
Diethard Klüh
association of Marburg
Germany
