The city of Magdeburg is located on the River Elbe and the capital of the German federal state of Saxony-Anhalt. The 17th-century Baroque town hall, in front of which there is a copy of the Magdeburg Rider by Heinrich Apel, is one of the most valuable monuments of the city. The monument of a rider on horseback, accompanied by two women, is placed in an elaborate deambulatory with a Baroque dome and gold ornaments. The square in front of the city hall, known as the Alter Markt, hosts a huge Christmas fair every year. The festive mood results from stunning decorations, a huge and beautifully lit Christmas tree and dozens of stalls, from which sweets, souvenirs and small gifts are sold. The Ferris wheel also boasts the great illumination. Christmas markets (German: Weihnachtsmarkt) have long tradition in German-speaking countries and currently are organized in every major city.
