Sunday shopping in Alzey: pottery market and November festival beckon!

Sunday shopping in Alzey: pottery market and November festival beckon!

Today, November 9th, 2025, there will be a shopping Sunday in Alzey, which will be celebrated at the same time as the traditionally popular pottery market and the November market. These events attract large numbers of visitors to the city and transform the shopping streets into lively marketplaces where neighbors and friends can discover the latest offers together. The weather is very cloudy, but remains dry, with maximum temperatures around 9 degrees Celsius - perfect weather for getting everything you need and enjoying the hustle and bustle at the same time.

The city of Alzey currently has no further Sunday openings planned. However, this is not atypical when you consider that the regulations for Sunday opening in Rhineland-Palatinate follow uniform federal legislation. How news.de reports, shops in Germany are allowed to open on a total of four Sundays a year, with the exception of public holidays that fall on a Sunday. This doesn't just apply to Alzey, but applies to the entire state.

The history of Sunday openings

Did you know that the history of Sunday openings is deeply rooted in Germany? In the 19th century it was quite normal for shops to be open seven days a week. But around the turn of the century a change took place. After the First World War, general Sunday rest for shops was introduced in 1919, which continues to this day. Historically, these regulations have their origins under Emperor Constantine, when Sunday was established as a day of rest.

In most federal states, shops are allowed to open their doors on four Sundays a year, although the exact regulations can vary depending on the federal state. fachanwalt.de describes that there are also exceptions, for example in certain sectors such as healthcare as well as in restaurants and gas stations.

In Rhineland-Palatinate, the next Sundays open for shopping have already been determined. In addition to today's dates, these are November 16th and 30th and January 4th, 2026. These dates can change or even be canceled, which is why it makes sense to contact the organizers directly. Particularly exciting are the shopping Sundays, which are often associated with regional events such as music and street festivals or fairs, which offer a wonderful opportunity to combine shopping with a social gathering.

A look at neighboring countries

If you compare the regulations regarding Sunday shopping in Germany with other countries, an interesting picture emerges: In France, shops are allowed to open on five Sundays per year, and the times can also be freely chosen. In Spain, however, shops are allowed to open on every Sunday in December and on the first Sunday of the month. Italy usually has Sunday as a day of rest and a public holiday, but allows up to eight Sundays for shops to be open, with cities like Rome being an exception during the run-up to Christmas. Such comparisons make it clear how different views on store opening times are.

Overall, Sunday shopping remains a topic that affects many people. It is often discussed, with both the advantages of being able to experience more flexibility in shopping and concerns about the loss of traditional leisure activities being discussed. Whether you should actually pay a visit on the day is up to you - one thing is clear: the citizens of Alzey can expect a lively market experience today!