UK city with 1,000-year-old market to have its first Christmas one
The 24-day event will take place around the magnificent 11th-century St Albans Cathedral and in the Vintry Gardens. The walled garden is adjacent to the Cathedral, both are listed by English Heritage as places of historic interest.
St Albans has what is thought to be the longest regularly held market in the same location in the country. Records clearly show that the market has been in same location in the city centre on Wednesdays and Saturdays for over 1,100 years. But this will be the very first time the City has had a German-inspired Christmas market, and it promises to be a magical and unforgettable experience for all visitors.
There will be up to 55 traditional wooden chalets in the Vintry Gardens and around the Cathedral. The Cathedral quarter sits right at the centre of a triangle of historic treasures that the City boasts. The only remaining Medieval Clock Tower is 100 metres to the north and the oldest Public School in the country (famous alumni include Pope Adrian IV and Stephen Hawking) is just behind the Cathedral. For visitors to the market who fancy a pint of real ale, the oldest pub in the UK, The Fighting Cocks, is just 200 metres south of the Cathedral.
Christmas market stalls confirmed will be selling a range of high-quality goods, from specialty food and drink, such as Bratwurst sausages, mulled wine and decorated gingerbread men, to wooden toys, Christmas decorations, stocking-fillers, hand-made clothes and gifts. There will be unique and festive gifts to surprise and delight visitors. Visitors will be able to the support the local economy in the part of the market dedicated to promoting products made in the three neighbouring counties of Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire.
Councillor Beric Read, Portfolio Holder for Localism and Community Engagement said: "We are absolutely thrilled to be holding our first German-inspired Christmas Market this year. We are very proud of our famous twice-weekly market, which we believe is the oldest regular town centre market in the UK, having been held in the same place for over 1,100 years. So this year we thought it was about time we had a proper European-style Christmas Market.
"St Albans is only 20 minutes on the train from St Pancras and we believe we are the nearest Christmas Market to central London, so we are expecting thousands of visitors.
"It will certainly be a market worth visiting as it will be held in a stunning central location around our Cathedral. St Albans is very good at mixing the historic with the contemporary. Visitors to the market will be able to soak up our amazing history here in St Albans, and at the same time enjoy a fresh and unique Christmas experience."
Highlights of the first St Albans Christmas Market include:
Traditional Cathedral Choristers AND a Rock Choir by candlelight
Light projections on the Cathedral for the first time ever
A Made in Herts, Beds and Bucks section
Cllr Read continues: "St Albans has had quite a year in 2013. In the Summer we celebrated our unique place in the Magna Carta's history with the Magna Carta coming to the Cathedral for a month. This event attracted thousands of visitors to the City and our magnificent Cathedral. We are confident that this magical German-inspired Christmas market will do the same, and close 2013 in style."
A traditional European-style Christmas Market, or Christkindlmarkt, such as those originating from Germany and Austria
St Albans - Fascinating facts, old and new
St Albans Cathedral is the oldest place of continual Christian worship in the UK - and has the longest nave of any Cathedral, including St Paul's and Westminster Abbey.
St Albans has the only medieval clock tower in the country.
St Albans has the oldest public school in Britain where Pope Adrian IV, the only Englishman to occupy the papal chair, and scientist Stephen Hawking were educated.
The Roman city of Verulamium (now the site of St Albans' Verulamium park) was the second-largest town in Roman Britain after Londinium and was burned and destroyed by Queen Boudicca and her army (St Albans) in AD60
St Albans' pub Ye Olde Fighting Cocks is in the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest pub in the country.
St Albans Abbey (now Cathedral) was at one time the principal Abbey in England and was the location of the first meeting (in 1213) which ultimately led to the sealing of the Magna Carta (in 1215).
World-famous heavy rock group Enter Shakari are from St Albans, and still play the odd gig in the city.
St Albans has more pubs per square mile than any other town in the country.
Legendary filmmaker Stanley Kubrick lived and worked in the area and produced The Shining here.
About St Albans
St Albans is one of the best-kept secrets in UK tourism: a historic gem of an English Cathedral City, just a stone's throw from London
St Albans stands out as a unique English Cathedral City. The city's colourful history can be seen in the Roman remains and the beautiful medieval architecture.
There are lush green parks and countryside, a buzzing metropolis, excellent attractions and interesting and ancient history.
St Albans has fabulous shopping with many small independent shops amongst the high street stores and a fantastic range of eating and drinkingestablishments.
There is a packed calendar of special events throughout the year in the City, many of them family friendly
It's easy to get here too. We're just 22 minutes from London St Pancras, a short hop off the M1 and M25 motorways, within easy reach of London Luton and Heathrow airports. Come and visit to discover St Albans for yourself - you'll be sure of a warm welcome.
