City Life
Markets
Since the right of the market was given to Marktoberdorf in 1453, once named just “Oberdorf”, markets are taking place on a regular base. In the beginning the purpose of markets were solely to supply the inhabitants of Marktoberdorf and surrounding villages. The farmers market is still fulfilling this duty. The fun fairs as well as the Christmas market with a 40 year tradition are focusing more on a leisure and pleasure time. The city of Marktoberdorf hosts two annual fun fairs (Urbani and Martinimarket), one christmas market and the weekly farmers market. For questions concerning the markets, you can contact our market administration at any given time or you can look up at the market statutes (städtischen Marktsatzung) and the market fee statutes (städtischen Marktgebührensatzung) for the current season.
Farmers Market
The Farmers Market takes place every Friday at the local marketplace, next to the “Frauenkapelle” (Lady Chapel) and historic town hall.
Basic fresh foods like fruit, vegetables, eggs, meats, cheese, bread or fish are sold. The Farmers Market opens from 07:00 to 13:00 from April until Oktober and from 08:00 to 13:00 from November until March. When the Friday is a holiday, then the market is shifted to the following Saturday.
Fun Fairs
In spring the Urbani Market takes place from Saturday until Monday, right before Ascension Day.
One half year later, from the second Saturday until Monday right after the parish fair, the Martini Market invigorates the city.
Approximately 120 merchants offer a large variety of goods like jewellery, textiles, presents, household goods, cleaning equipment, herbs and spices and natural products. Novelties, curiosities, traditional things or a simple souvenir – everybody will find something on the fun fairs in Marktoberdorf. Fun rides and shooting galleries add to the markets as well. From fairy-tale carousel for the little ones to autoscooter for the teens - the fun rides are a fun- and action-warrant. You will find those markets all over the inner city from the Kemptener str. Town hall, Jahnstr. , Georg-Fischer-Str. and marketplace. For exact dates, click here.
Bio-Markets
At the marketplace both Bio-Spring- and Autumn-Markets have taken place for many years now . Ecologic farmers, gardeners and merchants are offering the homegrown and processed Bio-Products.
The Bio-merchants and farmers are coming from all over the Allgäu and the upper Bavaria. Vegetables, Fruits, plants and seedlings, cheese, sausages and hams, various breads and pastry, natural products, freshly pressed oils and much more is presented to the visitors - everything with ecologic quality standards.
For current markets, please look up the events page.
Christmas Market
The Christmas Market usually opens it gates during the second week of December. It is one of the largest markets in the region and attracts visitors from all over Germany, Switzerland and Italy.
The 40 different stands are ideal for finding last minute Christmas presents, from local honey, spirits, Christmas cookies, to Christmas tree accessories, jewellery and many other handcrafted decors.
Always accompanied by the scents of hot punch and hot spicy wine, bratwurst, Christmas stews, raclette cheese or waffles, there is much to see and explore. Special arrangements are the kids carousel and the crib with real animals.
Events are continuously taking place: the choirs are singing, the elementary schools are playing theatre, live crafting of ice sculptures and bands playing classic Christmas Music. Last but not least, St. Nicholas drops by every day with his angels at his side to greet the many children.
