To Europe

day 1

Day 1: Frankfurt

If your schedule permits, start your tour in Frankfurt early enough to spend the day here, in this very modern metropolis which nevertheless offers many historic sites such as the Römerberg with its beautifully restored timber-framed houses, of course the Goethe Haus where the world famous poet once lived, the Paulskirche, symbol for democracy and freedom in Germany, "Alt-Sachsenhausen", where in Schellgasse number 6 you will find Frankfurt's oldest timber-framed house which was built around 1291, to name only a few of Frankfurt's historic landmarks. Visit the Frankfurt museum riverbank, one of the most important locations for museums in Germany and Europe. The exhibition buildings are lined up on both sides of the Main riverbank, several famous museums are to be found in the city center. Visit the "Städel", the German Museum of Architecture as well as the Museum of Applied Art or the "Schirn Kunsthalle" to name only a very few. And don't miss out on Frankfurt's "Zeil", a huge pedestrian zone where shopping is the name of the game. Your hotel is located close to Frankfurt's main station.

day 2

Day 2: Hanau / Gelnhausen / Steinau an der Strasse

In the morning take a train to Hanau, the city very close to Frankfurt where the Brothers Grimm were born in the years 1785 and 1786. Here in Hanau is the official beginning of the German Fairytale Route. On Hanau´s market square one can see the monument reminding us of the two famous brothers. The monument stands right in front of the "Neustädter Rathaus" (Neustädter Town Hall) with its attractive sandstone façade. Have a look at the "Deutsche Goldschmiedehaus" (German gold-smith house) which is now a museum showing the tradition of the gold-smiths in Hanau. The beautiful "Schloss Philippsruhe" (Castle Philippsruhe) in the lovely historic park "Wilhelmsbad" is another favourite sight seeing spot, the park being a favourite recreation area in the Rhein-Main region, inside the castle you will find the Hanau Historic Museum as well as the "Papiertheater Museum" (Papertheater Museum).
In the middle of Hanau´s Old Town there is the Marienkirche (Marienchurch), its sanctuary being the city's oldest preserved building. The city of Gelnhausen, only a short train ride from Hanau, is also a stop on the German Fairytale Route. Here you can visit the historic Old Town and see the ruins of an imperial fortress of emperor Barbarossa. There is also the witch-tower, built in the middle of the 15th century as a turret, it was also used as a dungeon for those unfortunate ones accused of being 'witches'. Yet another short train ride takes you to the Brothers Grimm city of Steinau an der Strasse. The Brothers Grimm lived here for seven years during their childhood. The Amtshaus (office house) where they lived was already 200 years old when they moved here in 1791. Visit the picturesque Old Town, take a short walk along the old city wall and enjoy the beauty of the town's half-timbered houses. There is a little puppetry which runs daily performances based on the famous fairy tales. In the evening take the train back to your Frankfurt hotel.

day 3

Day 3: Marburg / Kassel

Today the train will take you in around one hour to the city of Marburg on the Lahn river.
Here in Marburg the Brothers Grimm studied law, in their free time they started researching folk-literature, writing down several traditional fairy tales which until then had not been recorded in written form. Marburg's historic Old Town, called Oberstadt ("Upper town") will enchant you with narrow alleys, historic buildings and the charm of times long ago.
Visit the impressive Landgrafenschloss ("Landgrave castle"), which gave the town its name, dating back to the 10th century.
The Elisabethkirche ("Elisabeth-church"), build 1235-1283, is the oldest pure gothic church in Germany, it was erected above the grave of the Holy Elisabeth. Until the 16th century, the church was one of the most famous occidental places of pilgrimage.
Otto Ubbelohde, the painter who illustrated the Grimm's fairy tales, used many motifs of the Marburger Land ("Marburg´s countryside"), which are easily recognizable once you have visited this charming town. In the evening a train will take you in around one and a half hours to Kassel.

day 4

Day 4: Kassel

Welcome to Kassel, the heart of the fairy-tale route.
Here in Kassel the Brothers Grimm lived for over thirty years, working as librarians at the Electoral Library, known now as the Fridericanum, Europe's first public museum, which today is the centre of the documenta exhibitions.
Throughout the city you can enjoy a unique range of museums, top of the fairy-tale-fan's list should be the Brüder Grimm Museum in the Palais Bellevue. Do not miss the Murhardsche Bibliothek (Library) which houses the Brothers Grimm archives and is seat of the Brothers Grimm Society in Kassel. Within the beautiful Schlosspark Wilhelmshoehe there is the Lion's Castle, built in the years 1793-1806, it resembles the ruin of a mediaeval English knight's castle.
Take an excursion to the Hercules monument, Kassel´s landmark, from here you have magnificent view over the city.
In 1830, Jacob Grimm said: "The years I spent in Kassel were the happiest of my life", a day spent here will show you why!
Your next stop on the German Fairytale Route is Goettingen, which you will reach by train in less than one hour.

day 5

Day 5: Goettingen / Hamelin

Goettingen, where the Brothers Grimm lived after they moved away from Kassel, is famous for its University, which was founded in 1734. Among those teaching here as professors where the Brothers Grimm.
Goettingen's Old Town, surrounded by the city wall, is well preserved and restored. The town's landmark is the Gaenseliesel, a statue of a little girl that tends the geese. The Art Nouveau figure stands on the fountain in front of the old Town Hall, and although she resembles but a poor maiden she is 'the world's most kissed girl', because all students who earned their doctor's degree kiss her bronze cheek.
In the early afternoon take a train to the famous city of Hamelin.
And who is responsible for the towns fame?
Of course the "Rattenfänger von Hameln", the "Pied Piper of Hamelin"!
For centuries now, the "Pied Piper" has been the town's landmark, quite often especially during the summer there are open air plays showing the somewhat sad story of the loss of Hamelin´s children.
Visit Hamelin's beautifully restored Old Town, which is also quite unique as the historic Old Town is still to be seen almost uninterrupted by modern buildings on the main roads. There are a great number of historic stone- and timber-framed-buildings to be seen, many of them build in Renaissance style, such as the "Rattenfängerhaus" (Piet Piper house), the "Dempterhaus" and the "Hochzeitshaus" (wedding-house).

The town offers quite a few "Pied Piper" guided tours, taking you to the famous spots and historic locations out of which the fairy-tale evolved. Explore this very charming town, and who knows, in some narrow cobblestone alley maybe you'll also hear the sound of a flute, resounding from afar … .
Your hotel is located close to the main station.

day 6

Day 6: Bremen

Today take a 2 hour train ride to Bremen, the heart of North West Germany and home to the famous Bremen Town Musicians. The city's Town Hall with its Renaissance architecture is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, together with the statue of the "Roland" on the Bremer marketplace and the famous bronze display of the Bremen Town Musicians on the Town Hall's western side it is an incomparable tourist attraction. Then there is the "Mühle am Wall"(mill) which is the last mill left out of originally eight which were once built on the wall of the inner city. The mill was used up until 1950, today it is used as a café. Visit the "Schnorr", the towns oldest living quarters, and do not miss "Böttcherstrasse", Bremen's "secret main road".

day 7

Day 7: Bremen

The tour ends in Bremen.
Option: Train ride back to Frankfurt.