The World-Famous Weihnachtsdorf
(Christmas Village)
A Place Where Time Stands Still
A Christmas Wonderland That Enchants All Year Round
In the heart of the romantic old town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber – just a few steps from the market square – stands the Weihnachtsdorf (Christmas Village) of Käthe Wohlfahrt. Opened in 1981, it was the third year-round Christmas experience store of Käthe Wohlfahrt – and remains one of the most impressive to this day. Across more than 1,000 square metres of sales space, around 2 kilometres of fir garlands sparkle, fitted with over 122,000 LED lights. In the middle of the elaborately staged winter landscape rises a 5.70-metre-tall white Christmas tree – decorated with 1,900 ornaments and illuminated by more than 12,500 points of light. The Weihnachtsdorf (Christmas Village) is therefore not just a shop, but a landmark, a place of wonder – and an unforgettable experience for over a million visitors each year from all over the world. Anyone strolling through its festively decorated lanes experiences Christmas at its most beautiful: as a sensory, unifying celebration full of tradition, craftsmanship and warmth.
More Than a Shop – A Trademark
Alongside around 20,000 items – from mouth-blown glass ornaments and hand-painted wooden figures to exclusive collector's pieces – it is above all the lovingly crafted ambience that makes the Weihnachtsdorf (Christmas Village) so special. Every decoration, every product group is part of a richly detailed scene reminiscent of a romanticised Christmas village. The outdoor area, too, is legendary: since 1994, the "Weihnachtsexpress" (Christmas Express) – a nostalgically designed truck in Käthe Wohlfahrt style – has been welcoming visitors right outside the shop. The bright red vehicle, decked out with festive decor, gift parcels and sparkling lights, is one of Rothenburg's most popular photo spots and has long been an integral part of the Käthe Wohlfahrt brand. Here, taking photographs becomes a tradition – and every snapshot tells its own Christmas story.
A Concept That Travelled the World
To this day, the international company is run from Rothenburg ob der Tauber – under the leadership of Harald Wohlfahrt and his daughter Aska, together with his two sons, Kenta and Takuma. The company's own online shop, launched in 2003, also opened the business to the global market. Käthe Wohlfahrt now has twenty permanent shop locations in six countries, plus a further three shops at American military bases in Germany. In Germany alone, over 300 permanent employees work in areas such as warehouse logistics, shopfitting, tourism, marketing and design. During peak season, around 800 additional staff join in more than 50 walk-in sales pavilions at Christmas markets worldwide. What remains constant is where it all began: the Weihnachtsdorf (Christmas Village) in Rothenburg – the heart of the brand, the embodiment of living tradition and a place filled with emotion.
The Wohlfahrt family at the opening
of the Weihnachtsdorf (Christmas Village) in 1981