Fredericksburg is located about 80 miles (130 km) west of Austin and was founded in 1846, named after Prince Frederick of Prussia. The city was founded by German immigrants fleeing the conditions in Germany that led to the Revolution of 1848. Settling in the Texas Hill Country, they developed a rural agricultural community that has gradually become more tourist-oriented and a weekend destination for people in central Texas, particularly from Austin and San Antonio.
We arrive and walk past the ice skating rink to the holiday decorations in the Market Square (Marktplatz), which has been the center of the city since its founding.
Ice skating
Holiday decorations
A little farther along, we come across the Christmas Pyramid and the Christmas Tree. The Christmas Pyramid is a traditional German Christmas decoration from the Erzgebirge (Ore Mountains) of Germany and is believed by many to be the predecessor of the Christmas tree. Nearby, the Fredericksburg Community Christmas Tree is accompanied by signs that tell us that the tradition of Christmas trees can be traced to 16th century Germany and was introduced to the United States by German settlers in the 1800s.
Pyramid and tree
Manger in Marktplatz
We walk down the street and find touristic shops and beer gardens, full of holiday gifts, decorations, spirits, and repasts.
Shopping in Fredericksburg
We stop for lunch at a beer garden and share sausages, local hill-country wine, and German beer. We must be really hungry: we forget to take pictures of our food, just of the restaurant decorations.
Inside the restaurant
Walking back to our car, we pass through the Pioneer Memorial Garden at the rear of Marktplatz, a beautiful and serene sight in the crisp winter weather.
Pioneer Memorial Garden
We head back toward Austin after a great day trip into the Texas Hill Country.
Goodbye, Fredericksburg
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