Europe has many wonderful old traditions, and one of them is the Christmas market. Salzburg in Austria is one of the best places to go for quality and variety in Christmas markets. Here we show you no less than three different markets. One market is by the magnificent Baroque cathedral. Another by Andräkirche and the third out at Hellbrunn Palace , where the Bishop-Prince used to reside. Salzburg was an independent mini-state ruled by a Bishop-Prince until the Napoleonic wars. You can still feel this self-contained grandeur in the magnificent Baroque architectural pearls of Salzburg city. Christmas markets became a medieval tradition in German speaking lands and ushered in the four week church festival of Advent . In nearby Munich, Germany the Christmas market is first mentioned in 1310. There is only 150 km to Munich here from Salzburg.