Once upon a time... 9 Enchanting Places Along the German Fairy Tale Route

Once upon a time, there were two brothers whose magical stories, fairy tales, and legends continue to enchant fans of all ages to this day. We are, of course, referring to Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. Since they published their famous collection of fairy tales 'Children's and Household Tales' between 1812 and 1858, these tales have been an integral part of children's rooms in Germany.

Especially during the Christmas season, when everything becomes cozier, there's hardly anything better than listening to a fairy tale or two. For those who can't get enough of the Brothers Grimm, the German Fairy Tale Route offers a chance to walk in the footsteps of the Grimm brothers and experience all the beautiful fairy tales up close. Travelcircus has taken a closer look at the German Fairy Tale Route and selected 9 enchanting locations that will make the hearts of all Grimm and fairy tale fans soar.

Each of the towns, cities, and communities that make up the German Fairy Tale Route is enchanting in its own way and definitely worth a visit. If you want to see them all, you should plan some extra time. As a little planning aid, we have selected nine beautiful locations along the route.

Our dream journey along the German Fairy Tale Route begins in beautiful Hanau, where the brothers were born in 1785 and 1786. Traces of the two can be found throughout the city. Perhaps the most memorable is the Brothers Grimm National Monument in front of the Hanau Town Hall. If you are very interested in the history of the city and the famous fairy tale storytellers, you can take a themed city tour in Hanau, for example.

Other Grimm highlights in Hanau include the famous Brothers Grimm Festival, the interactive museum 'GrimmsMärchenReich,' and the charming Hanauer Fairy Tale Path.

Have you ever heard of Steinau an der Straße? No? Then it's about time. Especially fairy tale lovers and Grimm fans should definitely pay a visit to this Hessian town. Since the Brothers Grimm once lived in Steinau, a lot revolves around the famous duo in this town.

For instance, there's the fantastic Brothers Grimm House, which now houses a museum. The special thing about the museum is that you can experience the fairy tales interactively. For those who wish, there's the option to see, hear, or even feel the famous tales. Also interesting is the section of the museum dedicated to the younger brother Ludwig Emil Grimm, who was a significant graphic artist and painter.

The beautiful city of Marburg is especially popular and well-known among students. With its many small cafes and bars, excellent university, and lively atmosphere, Marburg is truly made for students. Two of the probably most famous students of the city were the Brothers Grimm, who studied law together in Marburg and likely had a wild student life there.

Marburg can best be explored through a themed city tour. A special highlight that can be discovered either independently or as part of a tour is the Grimm-Dich Path. Don't worry, there's no exercise involved here-it's about finding one or another fairy tale character or certain fairy tale symbols in the city. A little tip: Sometimes it's worth looking up!

The romantic town of Frankenberg is particularly known for its distinctive and imposing town hall, which has ten towers that rise above the charming city. Thanks to its many beautiful half-timbered houses, this town on the Eder River is a highly popular destination for city romantics.

For those looking to get to know the town a bit better, they can join the free city tour, which takes place every Saturday from April to October. Whether during the tour or on their own, anyone who finds themselves in Frankenberg should definitely keep an eye out for the 'Huckepackfiguren' - we won't spoil the surprise of where they are. These funny figures are the fairy tale symbols of the town and seem to symbolize that Frankenberg was a great place for lively celebrations.

Welcome to the capital of the German Fairy Tale Route: Kassel. The city is known as both the city of the Brothers Grimm and as the home of the documenta, which is considered the most important contemporary art exhibition and takes place every five years in Kassel.

In addition to art, nature, and relaxation, the Brothers Grimm also attract numerous visitors to Kassel every year. From here, the brothers wrote and published some of their most influential works, such as 'Children's and Household Tales' or the 'German Dictionary.' Grimm enthusiasts and anyone who wants to become one should definitely visit the GRIMMWELT Kassel. There, among other things, you can see the hand copies with notes and comments of the 'Children's and Household Tales.' The GRIMMWELT also offers various exhibitions, tours, and special events such as fairy tale reading sessions.

Another city where you can walk in the footsteps of Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm is Göttingen. The brothers taught here from 1829 to 1837 at the university. Additionally, they completed several of their works in Göttingen, including the third edition of their 'Children's and Household Tales.'

True Grimm fans should take a closer look at both the Paulinerkirche and Goetheallee No. 6. Traces of the famous brothers can be found at both locations. By the way, Göttingen is also home to what is said to be the most kissed statue in the world: the Gänseliesel. In the past, it was common for newly enrolled students to give the Gänseliesel a kiss. Nowadays, it's the doctoral candidates - and although it's officially forbidden, they still kiss the girl.

'And they lived happily ever after.' Not all fairy tales and legends have such a peaceful ending. Visitors are reminded of one such legend with a tragic ending in Hamelin. On June 26, 1284, the so-called Pied Piper of Hamelin is said to have lured away and disappeared with 130 children. This happened after he had freed the town from a rat infestation but was not paid.

Besides the Pied Piper figure in the city center, you can also discover one or another rat in Hamelin. Some of them are represented as bronze-colored cobblestones scattered throughout the city center. So, it's particularly worth paying attention to your surroundings in Hamelin. With the stunning half-timbered houses and narrow alleyways, you really can't help but look around.

A maritime flair, romantic half-timbered houses, and two cute animals racing against each other await visitors in the Lower Saxony town of Buxtehude.

But which two animals raced here? The hare and the hedgehog, of course. And you can see them all over the city: whether in theater performances, in the form of lovable figures spread throughout the town, on souvenirs, or even during city tours - no one can avoid the hare and hedgehog here. This year, Buxtehude will also host the popular International Fairy Tale Festival again from November 25 to December 23.

When thinking of fairy tales and Bremen, four little animals come to mind that came to Bremen in search of luck. We are, of course, talking about the famous Bremen Town Musicians.

Figures of the rooster, cat, dog, and donkey can be found multiple times across Bremen. The most famous statue of the four is next to the Bremen Town Hall. But if you look closely, you can also find them, among other places, in the Schnoor, at the fountain of the Handwerks Hof in Böttcherstraße, and of course on numerous souvenirs.