Following the German Fairy-Tale Road

Back in the 19^th century, the Grimm Brothers traveled around a particular region in Germany, collecting local fairytales and folklore. The stories they amassed became one of the most famous collections in history: The Complete Grimm’s Fairy Tales. The collection includes such beloved tales as “Sleeping Beauty” and “Red Riding Hood,” and the entire thing has been translated into 140 languages. What some loyal readers don’t know, however, is that it is possible to follow in the footsteps of Wilhelm and Jakob Grimm—by traveling the German Fairy-Tale Road (or the Deutsche Märchen Straße.) The fascinating route will take you 600km, from Hanau (near Frankfurt) in the State of Hesse through the Werra district and north to Bremen. Be sure to stop along the way to see these highlights:

The Grimm Brothers Statue – Hanau

An obvious starting point, the city of Hanau was the birthplace of the Grimm Brothers. Erected in 1896 in the Neustadt marketplace, the national monument is a must-see attraction. Visit Hanau from May to July, and you may also witness a local tradition: a wonderful festival held each year in the amphitheatre of Schloss Philippsruhe, created to keep the magic of the fairytales alive.

Steinau an der Straße

This quaint town dates all the way back to the 8^th century, and it still maintains an antique atmosphere. Steinau is where the Grimm brothers spent much of their childhood, and the house—“Die Alte Kellerei,” on Brückentor—that was the family’s home from 1796 to 1805 remains standing today as a museum. Half-timbered like many others in the area, the house is a charming reminder of the past.

Schwalm

Take a leisurely tour of the picturesque Schwalm Region, and you may just see why it is the setting for one of the Grimm Brothers’ most famous fairytales—“Little Red Riding Hood.” Thick forests blanket the banks of the Schwalm River and, amid the darkly beautiful hiking trails, you will find the museum of Ziegenhain. There you can see the traditional costumes of the region; who knows—some may have belonged to Little Red Riding Hood herself!

Göttingen

The Brothers Grimm worked at the University of Göttingen, and they definitely left their mark on the city. The romantic Old Town revolves around a central square wherein you may spy the statue of the Little Goose Girl. Visitors are encouraged to kiss the statue for good luck—and some say it is the most kissed statue in the world.

Trendelburg

Imposing towers characterize the medieval landscape of Trendelburg. There are quite a few and, according to local legend, one of them once imprisoned the fair Rapunzel. It was here in Trendelburg that she let down her long blond hair so that the prince could climb up it and rescue her.

Castle Sababurg

Walt Disney may have built Sleeping Beauty Castle at his theme park, but this 650-year-old German masterpiece is the real thing. Surrounded by a lovely park filled with tall ferns and oak trees, the castle now serves as a romantic hotel. It is sure to be a wonderful place to sleep—Sleeping Beauty slept here for 100 years before the prince woke her with a kiss, after all!

The Brothers Grimm Museum – Kassel

Housed within the historical Palais Bellevue is one of the Fairy-Tale Road’s most important landmarks: the Brothers Grimm Museum. Exhibits contain well-preserved furniture and other artifacts, items that point to the brothers’ scientific and political activities, and countless editions and translations of the fairytales—including the original handwritten book!

Hamlin

Hamlin is where the folk tale of the Pied Piper lives on. The original setting for the fairytale, the quaint town still honors its claim to fame. Visitors may visit the rat catcher’s house, purchase rodent-shaped cookies from local bakeries, and see the Glockenspiel at the Hochzeitshaus (Wedding House) that reenacts the legend of the man who skillfully lured the town’s children away.

Bremen

The final stop on the German Fairy-Tale Road, Bremen is home to the Bremen town musicians (the clever animals who outsmarted the thieves.) A statue of them can be found in the central town square. There are many great hotels in Bremen. We recommend the Park Hotel Bremen and the Swissotel Bremen.