Germany is the land of the fairy tales of famous Germans like the Brothers Grimm. Little Red Riding Hood, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Rapunzel and the Bremen Town Musicians are some of her most famous fairy tales. The original book, Kinder- und Hausmärchen , is now known as ‘ Grimm’s Fairy Tales ‘ and was edited and published by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm in 1812. Today, you can visit the settings of these wonderful fables along the Deutsche Märchenstraße ( German fairy tale The Road).
The road connects the cities and landscapes that served as the inspiration for classic fairy tales. The Scenic Route is a history lesson from Brothers Jacob and Wilhelm, taking you from their childhood home in Steinau to all the cities where the Brothers Grimm studied and worked. Along the way, you can marvel at medieval villages with narrow cobblestone streets and half-timbered houses, romantic castles, and dense forests where you can still conjure princes, witches, and dwarves.
However, the attraction itself was established quite recently in 1975. Since then, people have flocked to the route and more and more attractions and shows are being added to attract visitors. The Kassel-based company Verein Deutsche Märchenstraße supervises the route.
A fairytale vacation for the whole family
Driving down Fairy Tale Road is a wonderful journey for the whole family. Almost every city you visit offers family activities such as puppet shows, storytelling events and plays (many in German, but with universal appeal), parades, concerts, fairy tale museums, historical markets Christmas decorations and beautiful statues of your favorite fairy tale characters
Highlights of the German Fairy Tale Trail
- Steinau: Visit the Brothers Grimm Timber-framed Museum where Jacob and Wilhelm grew up, then stroll through the picturesque old town of Steinau.
- Schwalm Region: The region along the Schwalm River is the setting for the adventures of Little Red Riding Hood. Walk through the dark and deep forests, and visit the Ziegenhain museum where you can see traditional costumes that might even have belonged to Little Red Riding Hood and her grandmother.
- Kassel : In 2015, GRIMM WORLD opened here and explores all things Grimm.
- Göttingen: The Grimm brothers worked at the University of Göttingen. Visit the central square of the romantic old town and look for the statue of the goose girl, some say it is the most kissed statue in the world. You should kiss him too, luckily!
- Trendelburg – Climb up to the medieval Trendelburg Castle, which was the setting for Rapunzel’s story. From one of these towers, her long blonde hair was released so that the prince could climb up and save her, or so the story goes.
- Sababurg Castle: This 650-year-old castle was where Sleeping Beauty slept for 100 years before a kiss brought her. Back to life. You can also spend the night here, as the castle now houses a romantic hotel, surrounded by a lush park with ancient oak trees and tall ferns. In summer, there are theatrical performances in the castle courtyard.
- Hamelin: The picturesque town of Hamelin was the setting for the folk tale of the Pied Piper of Hamelin, a rat catcher who lured the city’s children to never see him again. Visit the rat catchers’ house, enjoy cute rodent-shaped cookies from local bakeries, and marvel at the ancient Glockenspiel (clock) in the Hochzeitshaus (Wedding House) that recreates the legend of the piper.
- Bremen: The city of Bremen is the last stop on Fairy Tale Road and the home of Bremen Musicians, the ingenious animals who outwitted thieves. Visit his statue in the central square of the city.
Travel Basics for Fairy Tale Road
- Website: http://www.deutsche-maerchenstrasse.com/en/
- 370 miles long (600 kilometers), with 50 towns and cities along the route
- Starting point: Hanau, 13 miles east of Frankfurt
- End point: Bremen
- How to get there: Fly into Frankfurt International Airport
- Getting Around: The best way to experience Fairy Tale Road is by car and you can get a rental car at Frankfurt Airport. Take the Autobahn A66 to Hanau, the starting point of Fairy Tale Road, and from there follow the signs with the heart-shaped head of a fairy-like creature for your route.
- Time to drink: one week
- Fairytale road map
