Germany

Cuckoo clocks. The cuckoo clock was invented in the Black Forest region of Germany, which continues to be the center of production. Triberg, the cuckoo clock capital of the world, is home to the world's largest cuckoo clock. Clocks are for sale throughout the region. Hubert Herr cuckoo clocks, all hand-carved, offer a wide selection (Hauptstr. 878098 Triberg/Schwarzwald, tel. +49 0 7722 4268).

Wood carvings. The Erzgebirge Mountains (Ore Mountains), located in southern Saxony, are famous for wood-carved items such as nutcrackers, Christmas pyramids, and Smoking Men figurines. Purchase these at the Christmas markets in Leipzig in western Saxony, open from the end of November to the end of December.