At the Christmas Market in the Ravenna Gorge, located in the Black Forest of southwest Germany

 In the depths of Germany's Black Forest lie some magical surprises.

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(down a frosty lane, past old sawmills, waterfalls and snow-dusted trees, one can discover a Christmas market worthy of a German fairy tale.) Entering the market at Ravenna Gorge, in Baden-Württemberg, feels like arriving in a Christmas wonderland. More than 40 stalls are framed by the steep hills of the forest and the 40-meter-high Höllental Railway viaduct, on which trains clatter by every 15 minutes or so. (The smell of glühwein and roasting bratwurst fill the air.)

+ The best view of the market can be found on top of the Galgenbühl hill, behind hotel Hofgut Sternen, which has hosted such famous guests over the years as Goethe and Marie Antoinette. Head up there to watch the sun set behind the 12th-century St Oswald Chapel, the oldest surviving parish church in the High Black Forest, and admire the millions of fairy lights twinkling in the dusk.

+ Traditional christmas markets take place in many places in the Black Forest every year. The flavor of mulled wine, waffles and fir needles, candlelights and the cosy atmosphere attract lots of guests every year anew.

+ After dark is when the Christmas market really comes to life. The fires are lit, mulled wine begins to flow, and music plays among the trees. You might want to enjoy a heaped mound of kasëspatzle, a German cheese and onion noodle dish, alongside a burgundy mug of glühwein, but there is almost too much to try, from flammkuchen (a very thin sort-of pizza, with a fromage-blanc sauce base), to gingerbread. It can become a magical night under the stars.

+ Of course, Christmas markets have a long history in Germany; some trace their origins back to the traditional winter markets of the 15th and 16th centuries. In 2019, there were more than 3,000 Christmas markets across the country and now, in rural communities, they are often held on different weekends, to promote local produce and attract visitors.

+ In Hinterzarten, a village about 3.5 miles from Ravenna Gorge, and, at the Hotel Schwarzwaldhof, rooms are clad in traditional wood panelling, painted with murals. Across from the hotel, when the village market is in full swing, with glühwein and hotdogs and a local brass band (playing a mixture of traditional music and modern hits). Hinterzarten is also home to the Black Forest Ski Museum, where they share the stories and history of the sport in the region.

+ The nearest city is Freiburg im Breisgau, known for its 800-year-old Freiburg Minster (cathedral), its chocolate-box Old Town, and, of course, its Christmas market. With more than 120 stalls, it sprawls around the city's squares and cobbled alleyways, sprinkling some sparkle everywhere you look. Visitors can find mulled wine and traditional German foods, as well as ornaments, clothes and carved gifts.

+ On a total of 33 event days, from November 21 to December 23, 2024, the 51st Freiburg Christmas Market will take place this year.