Are you ready for some German Christmas market magic? Fun as those regular commercial ones dotting virtually every city center can be, sometimes you might yearn for something that appears, at least on the surface, a little more traditional.

Last year, when a friend visited, I strived to ratchet that old holiday spirit up a notch. So we boarded a German bus tour headed to a Christmas market at Maulbronn Monastery. This one-weekend only market offered a huge assortment of handmade goods, from soaps to honey to liqueurs. Add to that a gorgeous, UNESCO heritage setting, and a good time was had by young and old (the predominant generation of our fellow bus passengers). Should you be interested in checking out this market during its 2008 run, Dec. 6 and 7 this year, visit the monastery’s Web site.

This year I hope to visit a few more markets offering that extra special something. The Web site http://www.weihnachtsmarkt-deutschland.de/ gives some ideas of markets taking place in castles and monasteries under the heading “Burgweihnacht”: When possible, I have provided a link directly to the market organizer or location hosting it. Many of these sites are only in German.

Kastellaun, Hünsruck, Dec. 6-7, will have a living nativity scene.

Schloss Engers, Neuwied, Nov. 29, has a nutcracker market. 

Cochem Castle, in the Mosel valley, hosts a market Nov. 27 through Dec. 21. On December 13-14, the Christmas story will be acted out in the courtyard of the castle.

Bad Berleburg, Dec. 12-14, offers a baroque, Middle Ages Christmas market.

Burg Kronberg, in the Taunus range, Dec. 13- 14, offers traditional handicrafts.

Schloss Lichtenberg, Fischbachtal, Nov. 28-30.  

Schloss Föhren, Dec. 12-13, offers holiday music and handmade arts and crafts.

Burgschwalbach, Nov. 29.

Eppstein, Dec. 13-14.

Ottweiler, Christkindlmarkt, Nov. 28-30.

Schloss Buseck, Eppelborn, Dec. 7.

Burg Lichtenberg, Nov. 29-30, Thallichtenberg, Medieval Christmas market.

Neuleiningen, Nov. 29-30 and Dec. 6-7. On the first and last days there will be music, and on Dec. 7 at 4 p.m., St. Nikolaus will wander the alleys and give presents to the children.

Burg Falkenstein, Dec. 13 from 2 p.m. and Dec. 14 from 10 a.m. Nikolaus will show up at 5 p.m. on both of those days.

Burg Hartenstein, Nov. 29-30.

Burg Trausnitz, Dec. 6-7.

Wasserschloss Mitwitz, Nov. 29-30. Starts 1 p.m.

Schloss Tambach, Dec. 6-7. Hours are Sat. 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m.- 6 p.m. Admission is nine euros for adults and free for those 16 and under.

Schneewittchen , Lohr am Main, Dec. 6-7.

Schloss Steinbach, Lohr am Main, Nov. 29-30.

Schloss Wilhelmsburg, Schmalkalden, Nov. 29-30. Middle Ages Christmas market.

Wartburg, Eisenach, Saturdays and Sundays between Nov. 29 and Dec. 21.

Vianden Castle, Luxembourg, Dec. 13-14.

Do you know of any other extra special markets? If so, please share their dates and location.