Christmas & New Year in Bayerisch Eisenstein

Most people come here for Christmas in order to get away from the noisy commercial Christmas at home. Christmas here is quiet but that does not mean there is nothing to do. You can just spend an 'away from it all' holiday, relaxing in your apartment and walking in the forest but there are also these activities available:

When you arrrive, we will greet you with a mug of Gluehwein and mince pies. Your apartment will have a Christmas tree, which we can decorate for you or leave decorations for you to put up yourselves.

Bayerisch Eisenstein International Christmas Market - this takes place on the last Sunday before Christmas, midday to 19.00. A wide range of stalls sell food and gifts from different countries around the world, accompanied by music entertainment from local bands and singers.

Before Christmas there is also usually a Christmas concert in the village church.

Christmas markets in Regensburg, Passau, Deggendorf and Plzen can all be reached by train, if you don't want to drive or want to sample the Gluehwein.

On Christmas Eve, we usually take a whole room at the Poeschl restaurant in the village, with one big table, for a meal. This starts at 5pm so that we are finished in time for the staff to get home and celebrate the evening with their families. It is up to you whether you come or not, no pressure!, and everybody pays for their own food and drink. Afterwards we come back to the Forsthaus, with drinks available for anyone who wants to continue the evening.

On Christmas Day, most people cook Christmas lunch in their apartment or book a table at a local restaurant and have a quiet day, with a walk around the village or into the forest. Some people go skiing as the winter sports facilities are in full gear on Christmas Day. We provide every apartment with sparkling wine, Christmas crackers and Christmas biscuits.

On Christmas Day or Boxing Day, we have a Christmas party in the evening at the Forsthaus with local music.

Between Christmas and New Year, there are various events in the area - a local choir gives a concert on the village square, there are horse drawn sledge races at Rinchnach, the Christmas markets in Prague continue until New Year. A group of local musicians go around the village playing local music at every house.

On New Year's Eve there are fireworks all over the village at midnight. We have our own firework display for guests, with Gluehwein, hot dogs and sparkling wine at midnight.

On New Year's Day, the village band give their 'New Year's Day Concert' of Bavarian and Bohemian waltzes and polkas.

All events are free of charge unless otherwise stated.

We would like to say that we have a white Christmas every year but we have to be honest and say that there is no guarantee. Until now, there has always been snow on the Arber for skiing at Christmas and most years there has been snow in the village.