Germany’s Fairy-Tale Route in a Nutshell

Day 1: Arrival to Hamelin
Hamelin is the economic and cultural centre of the Weser Hills region. The city gained wealth through its geographically advantageous position as a trading centre on the banks of the river Weser. Thereby, the region experienced a downright building boom between the Reformation and the Thirty Years’ War during which a new style was developed; the Weser-Renaissance architecture. The superbly decorated houses in the Weser-Renaissance style are a proof of the city’s previous affluence. Hamelin became famous across the world through the Brothers Grimm’s legend of the “Pied Piper”. In the afternoon you can familiarize yourself with Hamelin during a sightseeing walk through its historic district. Time provided, a visit to Hamelin’s City Museum with its mechanical “Pied Piper Theatre” is highly recommended (optional). We would be pleased to organize tickets to a performance of the “Pied Piper Plays” or the “Pied Piper Musical” (both optional). Dinner and accommodation in the Hamelin/ Detmold/ Hildesheim region.

Day 2: Fairy-Tale Excursion through the Weser Hills
Today you will undertake an excursion to find traces of fairy-tales in the Weser Hills region. Besides other places, your tour will take you to Polle, home to “Cinderella” and to Bodenwerder, home to the famous “Lying Baron von Münchhausen” with possibility to visit the Münchhausen Museum (optional) and to Höxter, home to Hansel and Gretel. Thereafter, continuation to Fürstenberg’s porcelain manufactory, a fabulous palace complex built in the Weser-Renaissance style and with its age of more than 250 years one of Europe’s oldest porcelain manufactories. Possibility for a visit (optional) with a classy lunch (optional). Here, the “The Wishing Table” is still being taken serious! Sophisticated table culture has been presented here since 1747. Then continue to Corvey Abbey (UNESCO World Heritage), a palace complex and previous monastery with more than 1,200 years of history, built in the Romanesque style. Here, visitors can discover exciting things behind ancient walls (optional). Hoffmann von Fallersleben, the poet who texted the German national anthem, worked here in its former imperial abbey, today a palace, as a librarian until his death. Dinner and accommodation in the Hamelin/ Detmold/ Hildesheim region. Alternatively, dinner can be booked in a typical restaurant (optional).

Day 3: ‘Reinhardswald’ Forest – Kassel
After breakfast, you will travel along the Weser on the tracks of fairy-tales through the ‘Reinhardswald Forest’ with the possibility to undertake a short boat trip on the Weser (optional). On your way you will have the possibility for lunch and/or a visit (both optional) to the enchanted fairy-tale castle ‘Trendelburg’ with its more than 700 years old history where once upon a time “Rapunzel” let her hair down to her prince. Thereafter, continue to Kassel, from where you will undertake a guided excursion on the tracks of fairy-tales in the afternoon. You can choose one of the three themes: “Little Red Riding Hood” (Schwalm region), “Sleeping Beauty” (Reinhardswald Forest) or “Mother Holle” (Werra-Meissner region). Thereafter, continue to your hotel. Dinner and accommodation in the Kassel region. Alternatively, dinner can be booked in a fairy-tale experience restaurant (optional).

Day 4: Kassel – Fairy-Tale Excursion
In the morning undertake a sightseeing walk in the footsteps of the Brothers Grimm in Kassel. It was here where they passed their most productive period, collected their “Children’s and Household Tales”, wrote their “German Grammar” and composed the “German Dictionary”. During a visit to the brand new visitor and documentation centre GRIMMWELT thereafter, you can familiarize yourself with life and works of the Brothers Grimm. Here, language, fairy-tales, original manuscripts and biographical notes are being attractively presented for all ages with hands-on activities and state of the art presentation technology. In the afternoon, undertake another guided excursion on the traces of another famous fairy-tale. You may again pick one of the remaining themes: “Little Red Riding Hood” (Schwalm region), “Sleeping Beauty” (Reinhardswald Forest) or “Mother Holle” (Werra-Meissner region). Alternatively, you can choose the theme “Once upon a time …“ starting in Marburg or an excursion on the traces of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” through the ‘Kellerwald Forest’ National Park (UNESCO World Heritage) starting in Bad Wildungen with a visit to Snow White’s house (WED-SUN optional), a visit to a visitor gem mine (WED-SUN optional) and a gem grindery (WED-SUN optional). Dinner and accommodation in the Kassel region. Alternatively, dinner can be booked in a fairy-tale experience restaurant (optional).

Day 5: Marburg – Return Journey
Continue to Marburg in the morning and undertake a guided sightseeing walk in the footsteps of the Brothers Grimm. Marburg is the city with Germany’s oldest Gothic church and sepulchre of St Elisabeth. The city with the venerable Philipps-University used to the Brothers Grimm’s study place. It has an almost completely preserved medieval district. Thereafter, enjoy some free time for your own discoveries before you undertake your return journey. Alternatively, you may book an extension night in this region.