Käthe Wohlfahrt

Käthe Wohlfahrt

Founded in 1964 in Germany, “Käthe Wohlfahrt” is known worldwide as a family owned specialist shop for traditional, quirky and modern Christmas decorations with high quality standards. Situated in the heart of York the Christmas shop is open all year round and worth a visit for a truly magical shopping experience.

Housed in a listed building dating back to 1434, visitors can walk through 10 rooms, over two floors, each room bringing it’s own surprises and delights with different decoration ideas.

Starting with the traditional nutcrackers and incense smokers, all hand made and hand painted in Germany, then through to the wooden hanging decorations. In this room you will see some pyramids and schwibbogens (more of these upstairs) and get your first glimpse of the sixteen foot Christmas tree full of mouth blown formed glass decorations. You will be amazed at the display of glass baubles in many colours and shapes. Upstairs are angels, snowglobes, nativity scenes and many more hanging ornaments. The soft lighting in the ancient paneled room allows you to see the intricate craftsmanship of the lit schwibbogens and pyramids. Walk through the former priest hole into a room with low ceilings and beams to see beautiful high quality table linens and textiles, for all seasons, olive woods and much more. From here you move on to the Käthe Wohlfahrt own limited edition Children’s Dreams, Villeroy and Boch porcelain and Wendt and Kuhn figurines. There is a huge range of old fashioned Advent calendars (without chocolate) . Finally the Cuckoo Clock room where helpful staff will demonstrate how these authentic German clocks work.

Part of the huge product range are the popular company’s own designs with the loving special details, that are developed in the artist workshop in Rothenburg o.d.T./Germany, which include exclusive York souvenirs.