Germany’s Fairy-Tale Route from North to South

Day 1: Arrival in Bremen (UNESCO World Heritage)
Visit Bremen’s market square during a sightseeing tour in the afternoon and see its cathedral, its town hall (UNESCO site), built in the Weser-Renaissance style, the statue of Bremen’s Roland (UNESCO site) and the ‘Town Musicians’ monument. Dinner and accommodation in the Bremen/Lüneburg Heath/Hannover region.

Day 2: Bremen – Hamelin (185 kms)
Hamelin became world-famous through the Brothers Grimm’s legend of the “Pied Piper”. After your arrival undertake a sightseeing tour in the afternoon. Thereafter, free time. We recommend a visit to Hamelin’s City Museum with its mechanical “Pied Piper Theatre”. We would be pleased to book tickets to the “Pied Piper Plays” or the “Pied Piper Musical” for you. Dinner and accommodation in the Detmold/ Hamelin/ Hildesheim region.

Day 3: Excursion to the Weser Hills
Today undertake an excursion through the Weser Hills to Polle, home to “Cinderella”, to Bodenwerder, home to the famous “Baron von Münchhausen” and to Höxter, home to Hansel and Gretel. Thereafter, continuation to Fürstenberg’s porcelain manufactory, a fabulous palace complex in the Weser-Renaissance style and at an age of more than 250 years one of Europe’s oldest porcelain manufactories. Possibility for a visit and/or a classy lunch stop. Here, the “The Wishing Table” is still being taken serious! Sophisticated table culture has been presented here since 1747. Then continue to Corvey (UNESCO site), a palace complex and previous monastery with more than 1,200 years of history. Dinner and accommodation in the Detmold/ Hamelin/ Hildesheim region.

Day 4: Hamelin – “Little Red Riding Hood” Excursion – Kassel
After breakfast travel along the Weser through the ‘Reinhardswald Forest’. You may opt for a short boat trip on the river Weser. Option for lunch and/or a visit at the enchanted ‘Trendelburg’ castle with its more than 700 years of history where “Rapunzel” used to let her hair down to her prince. Continue to Kassel. In the afternoon a guide will take you on an excursion theemed “Little Red Riding Hood” through the Schwalm region where red hoods used to be a part of girls’ traditional dress. Travel past the ruin of ‘Felsberg’ castle through enchanted half-timbered towns, such as Homberg and Melsungen. Dinner and accommodation in the Kassel region.

Day 5: Kassel – “Sleeping Beauty” Excursion
Enjoy a guided walk in Kassel in the footsteps of the Brothers Grimm in the morning where they had their most productive period, collected their “Children’s and Household Tales”, wrote their “German Grammar” and composed the “German Dictionary”. In the afternoon, a guide will take you on an excursion on the traces of “Sleeping Beauty”. Travel through the enchanted ‘Reinhardswald Forest’ with its little villages brimming with history, visit “Sleeping Beauty’s” alleged castle ‘Sababurg’ and the endearing baroque town Bad Karlshafen. Then, enjoy the romantic landscape along the Weser banks. Dinner and accommodation in the Kassel region.

Day 6: Kassel – “Mother Holle” Excursion – Marburg
Today, visit the documentation centre GRIMMWELT where language, fairy-tales, original manuscripts and biographical notes are displayed attractively for all ages with hands-on activities and latest technology. In the afternoon, a guide will take you on a “Mother Holle” excursion. Travel past enchanting half-timbered towns and villages, such as Hannoversch Münden and Bad Sooden-Allendorf, then through the picturesque Werra valley to ‘Berlepsch’ castle where you can stop for lunch and/or a visit. Return via Mount Meissner, home to “Mother Holle”, through idyllic half-timbered villages. Dinner and accommodation in the Kassel/ Marburg/ Wetzlar region.

Day 7: Marburg – ‘Marburger Land’ or „Snow White“ Excursion
Sightseeing in the footsteps of the Brothers Grimm in Marburg with its well preserved medieval district, home to Germany’s oldest Gothic church and sepulchre of St Elisabeth. The city with one of Germany’s oldest universities used to be the Brothers Grimm’s study place. In the afternoon, excursion themed “Once upon a time …” through Marburg’s hinterland. Alternatively, a guided excursion to the ‘Kellerwald Forest’ National Park (UNESCO site) with a visit to “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” house, a visitor gem mine and a gem grindery (all three open WED-SUN only and optional). Dinner and accommodation in the Bad Wildungen/Marburg/Wetzlar region.

Day 8: Return Journey
Before your return journey, a visit to half-timbered towns of Alsfeld or Steinau is recommended. In Steinau where the Brothers Grimm spent their youth from 1791 to 1796 you may visit the Grimm Family’s original home as well as the fairy-tale well on market square built to honour Jacob Grimm’s 200th birthday. We would be pleased to organize sightseeing for you. Thereafter, free time or return journey.