Dresden Stollen Festival
Visitor’s information
Visiting the Festival - Program
The Stollen Festival starts with an introductory program and the formation of the procession on the Dresden Schlossplatz at about 10:30 a.m. The Stollen Festival officially starts at 11:00 a.m. with the festive unveiling of the Giant Stollen and a short stage performance in front of the Cathedral. During the stage performance, August the Strong (Steffen Urban), Countess Anna Constanza von Cosel (Birgit Lehmann) and court jester Frölich (Matthias Schanzenbach) are telling „courtly anecdotes“ and all sorts of interesting and amusing details about the Stollen and the life at the Saxon court. At about 11:20 a.m., the Stollen procession starts on the Schlossplatz and follows a route across Dresden’s Altstadt. The procession takes about 45 minutes.
The festival convoy is about 200 meters long and consists of many colorful, decorated horse-drawn wagons, carriages and coaches, bands, horsemen, standard-bearers, bakers, pastry-chefs, the Stollen Maiden, craftsmen and historic figures. Not only is the world’s biggest Stollen and the biggest knife presented during the procession, but also scenes of the Stollen history are re-enacted. Furthermore, different guilds show the traditions of their trade.
Visitors will have the best view of the procession from the Dresden Schlossplatz. The procession crosses the Schlossplatz twice. The passage of the Fürstenzug (Procession of Princes) and Georgentor is said to be especially attractive. From there, it’s only a few steps to the Brühlsche Terrasse (Bruehl Terrace). There, you will have a wonderful view of the procession.
The festive ceremony of the First Cut with the Grand Stollen Knife takes place at the Striezelmarkt in front of the stage next to the fairy-tale castle at about 12 o’ clock. The sale of the Giant Stollen starts at the same place about 20 minutes later. The sale is accompanied by a stage performance with August the Strong, Countess Cosel, court jester Frölich and stories about the Dresden Stollen and the life at the Saxon court. The festival ends at about 3:00 p.m.
The portions of the Giant Stollen are sold to the visitors in exchange for the so called Stollenthaler. The Stollenthaler are available for 4 Euro at the Striezelmarkt, on the Schlossplatz and in the surroundings of the procession.
You will find more detailed information about the route and the course of the festival under PROCESSION, ROUTE and COURSE.
Journey
The Stollen Festival takes place in Dresden’s barouqe city center between Zwinger, Semper Opera House, Frauenkirche, Brühlscher Terasse (Bruehl Terrace) and Altmarkt (Old Market). The best way to reach the city center by car is to take the motorway exit Dresden-Altstadt or Dresden-Hellerau. It’ll take you about 20 minutes from the motorway exits to the city center.
When arriving by train at central station you can take the tram or go on foot (12 minutes walk to the Striezelmarkt, 20 minutes walk to the Zwinger). When going by tram, please step off at Postplatz (Zwinger) or at Altmarkt/Wilsdruffer Straße (Striezelmarkt).
It’ll take you about 25 minutes from the airport to the city center. Of course, you can rent a car at the airport.
Taxi-call in Dresden: 211 211 or 88 88 88 88
Parking
As on every weekend during the time of Advent, the city is very frequented. Concerning parking-places, the situation is rather critical. But due to several newbuilt underground car parks the situation has improved. Visitors can use the following underground car parks in the surroundings of the Striezelmarkt: Altmarkt-Galerie (access road Wallstraße), Karstadt (access road Dr.-Külz-Ring), Prager Straße (access road St. Petersburger-Straße), Neumarkt/Frauenkirche (access road Schießgasse), Landtag/Semperoper (access road Devrientstraße). The dynamic guidance system in the city might help you to find a parking place.
Accomodation
Dresden is always worth a journey. Particularly during Christmas time. During a long Advent weekend in Dresden, for example, you can visit the historic sights, the Stollen Festival, the Striezelmarkt, the medieval Christmas fair in the Royal Mews and take a trip with the Saxon Steamship Company on the river Elbe. It’s also worthwhile to make an excursion to the Erzgebirge – the German “Christmas country” par excellence. Places such as Freiberg, Annaberg-Buchholz, Schneeberg, Marienberg, Schwarzenberg, Olbernhau and Oberwiesenthal are well-known for their romantic Christmas fairs, customary parades and lovely Advent festivals. And you should not forget to pay a visit to the famous “Christmas village” Seiffen with its toy makers, wood carvers, Nußknackern (nutcrackers), pyramids and Schwibbögen.
Because of the big number of tourists during Christmas time, we recommend an early hotel reservation.
See also LINKS for further tourist information.
General Information
Aarea code for Dresden in Germany: 0351...
Area code for Dresden from abroad: 0049351...
Here you will find a street map of Dresden: www.dresden.de/stadtplan
Tourist information points are at the Theaterplatz next to the Semper Opera House, in the Schinkelwache and in a pavilion on Prager Straße.
Multilingual tourist information, for example about events, accomodation, reservation, opening hours etc.: www.dresden.de/tourism
Note
During the Stollen Festival procession between 11:20 a.m. and 12:00, temporary obstructions of traffic may occur in the area of Sophienstraße, Theaterplatz, Neumarkt and Wilsdruffer Straße. We ask for some understanding.
