Enchanting German towns of the Grimm fairy tales
Ranked #4,412 in Travel & Places, #130,370 overall
Grimm fairy tales come alive!
When we were little girls, Daddy used tell us his version of one of the Grimm Fairy Tales - Hansel and Gretel - on weekends, without fail. Our favorite part of the story? It's where the witch was stalking Hansel and Gretel from way up in the trees, nothing heard except the rustling of leaves - and then, a shrill scream as the ugly witch swooped down and grabbed them! What an adventure!
Screams of fear and delight were heard throughout the house as we all huddled together like chicks. Why, one late night just this year, I found myself rushing home with our dog, Kazan, when I heard the rustling of leaves.
Eventually, we found out that it wasn't Daddy who wrote Hansel and Gretel but the Grimm brothers (nice try, Daddy). They wrote about 200 stories of which we only know a handful.
Here's where they all come true! The locations exist and fairy tale enthusiasts get to visit the actual locations of these beloved fairy tales that inspired the German brothers. There are 60 towns that comprise the German Fairy Tale Route - a route of more than 600 kilometers.
Let's visit a few of these charming towns and reminisce the best of the Brothers Grimm fairy tales.
Photo by Alice J. Rose
Screams of fear and delight were heard throughout the house as we all huddled together like chicks. Why, one late night just this year, I found myself rushing home with our dog, Kazan, when I heard the rustling of leaves.
Eventually, we found out that it wasn't Daddy who wrote Hansel and Gretel but the Grimm brothers (nice try, Daddy). They wrote about 200 stories of which we only know a handful.
Here's where they all come true! The locations exist and fairy tale enthusiasts get to visit the actual locations of these beloved fairy tales that inspired the German brothers. There are 60 towns that comprise the German Fairy Tale Route - a route of more than 600 kilometers.
Let's visit a few of these charming towns and reminisce the best of the Brothers Grimm fairy tales.
Photo by Alice J. Rose
Brothers Grimm, Hollywood-style
This Brothers Grimm movie takes your imagination on a grand ride! Take the time out to watch the movie. I've included the trailer here.
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Germany's Fairy Tale Road
A 400 mile stretch from Frankfurt to Bremen
A Grimm fairy tales map takes you to all the different towns related to the wonderful tales of the Brothers Grimm. Check out Deutsche Maerchenstrasse for more info.
Bremen Town Musicians
Take your friends and head for Bremen
These adorable animals are heroes and have a bronze statue located round the western side of the Rathaus. Every Sunday from May to September, this Grimm Fairy tale is performed at noon for free at the Liebfrauenkirchhof Square.
Before you leave for Germany, have fun watching these videos on Grimm Fairy Tales
Well, they're not the original Grimm fairy tales version but it shows how creative our imagination can be. Sleeping Beauty singing "Once Upon a Dream" is a classic!
Cinderella
Following her footseps at the castle in Polle
We all know the story of Cinderella... or do we? The Grimm brothers toned down the brutalities going around about this lucky lass. Didn't we all fall in love with her rags to riches story provided by her fairy godmother?
Check out the castle in Polle, inspired to be Cinderella's home. And if you're there in between the months of May to September, try to catch the fairy tale performance at the castle every third Sunday of the month at 3pm.
Check out the castle in Polle, inspired to be Cinderella's home. And if you're there in between the months of May to September, try to catch the fairy tale performance at the castle every third Sunday of the month at 3pm.
Little Red Riding Hood
Seeing red in Shwalmstadt
It is said that the region of Shwalmstadt inspired the Brothers Grimm to write the fairy tale of Little Red Riding Hood. The city itself is a well preserved medieval fortification and walking around makes you feel like walking in a fairy tale.
The Museum of the Shwalm houses the fairy tale garb and a procession of the garbs is held every year in June.
Hmm, back then, it must have been totally unthinkable for young girls to travel on their own and the wolf was there to keep them locked up at home. Nowadays, women traveling solo is very much accepted and these women are smart enough to stay away from the big bad wolf.
The Museum of the Shwalm houses the fairy tale garb and a procession of the garbs is held every year in June.
Hmm, back then, it must have been totally unthinkable for young girls to travel on their own and the wolf was there to keep them locked up at home. Nowadays, women traveling solo is very much accepted and these women are smart enough to stay away from the big bad wolf.
Rapunzel
Let down your golden hair in Trendelburg
We're all familiar with the large German cities: Frankfurt, Munich, Berlin and Cologne. Those are always the main cities to see but there are also smaller towns with the half-timber houses people associate with fairy tales that people are curious about. One such town is Trendelburg. The Grimm brothers wrote Rapunzel's "hair-raising" story with Trendelburg as its location.
Remember Rapunzel's story? Didn't we all feel for this poor princess who was stuck in the tower all day, doing nothing but brush her long hair while gazing out the window? Don't we feel that way sometimes? Wishing to break out of routine and see the world? Why not this year? Let your hair down and plan to visit the fairy tale land of Germany.
Remember Rapunzel's story? Didn't we all feel for this poor princess who was stuck in the tower all day, doing nothing but brush her long hair while gazing out the window? Don't we feel that way sometimes? Wishing to break out of routine and see the world? Why not this year? Let your hair down and plan to visit the fairy tale land of Germany.
Playing Rapunzel
Not only for Halloween
Play the role of Rapunzel in your very own fairy tale! Weave your very own Grimm Fairy tales happy ending.
Rank these Grimm fairy tales
Hansel & Gretel
Oscar® winner* Cloris Leachman (Herbie Goes Banan more...0 points
Little Red Riding Hood
Little Red Riding Hood ignores her parents' orders more...0 points
Barbie as Rapunzel
Long long ago in a time of magic and dragons there more...0 points
Sleeping Beauty
Awaken your senses to the majesty of SLEEPING BEAU more...0 points
The Goose Girl
The original statue of Liesel exists in Gottingen, Germany which is a university town where the Grimm brothers worked as professors. Paul Nisse a sculptor and Heinrich Stockhardt an architect were commisioned to create a commemorative statue to honor the brothers. In 1901 the statue/fountain of Liesel the Goose princess was erected to celebrate the brothers and one of their famous characters.
It has become a tradition of the students of Gottingen University to climb up the fountain and kiss the statue of Liesel to celebrate their success in getting a doctor's degree. Today Liesel is admired as the Goddess of Study.
Photo and description by kuckibaboo
Introduction to Fairy Tales and Folklore
A wonderful collection by Heidi Ann Heiner
I came across this wonderful site on fairy tales! Check out these fairy tales at SurLaLune Fairy Tales.
- SurLaLune Fairy Tales: The Annotated Bremen Town Musicians
- A CERTAIN man had a donkey, which had carried the corn-sacks to the mill indefatigably for many a long year; but his strength was going, and he was growing more and more unfit for work...
- SurLaLune Fairy Tales: The Annotated Hansel and Gretel
- ONCE upon a time there dwelt on the outskirts of a large forest a poor woodcutter with his wife and two children; the boy was called Hansel and the girl Gretel...
- SurLaLune Fairy Tales: The Annotated Rapunzel
- ONCE upon a time there lived a man and his wife who were very unhappy because they had no children. These good people had a little window at the back of their house, which looked into the most lovely garden...
- SurLaLune Fairy Tales: The Annotated Little Red Riding Hood
- ONCE upon a time there lived in a certain village a little country girl, the prettiest creature who was ever seen. Her mother was excessively fond of her; and her grandmother doted on her still more...
- SurLaLune Fairy Tales: The Annotated Sleeping Beauty
- THERE were formerly a king and a queen, who were so sorry that they had no children; so sorry that it cannot be expressed. They went to all the waters in the world; vows, pilgrimages, all ways were tried, and all to no purpose...
A Happy Ending
That isn't happening yet with this lens since I will still be adding to the list :-) Hope you enjoyed a virtual visit to the Grimm fairy tales towns in Germany.
I do look forward to receiving your comments, questions or feedback!
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perfumelover
Oct 22, 2009 @ 1:07 pm | delete
- This is a load of fun! Those fairy tales are so intriguing even still as a I grow older! Visiting all those towns some day would be loads of fun. :)
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Aug 3, 2009 @ 7:29 pm | delete
- I loved this lens 5*!
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Mica_K
Mar 2, 2009 @ 10:52 pm | in reply to d-artist | delete
- Hi Delia, how could have I missed your post? Thanks for the the 5 :-) Fairy tales remind me of a happy childhood! Thanks for the visit.
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d-artist Dec 30, 2008 @ 8:55 pm | delete
- from childhood in Germany I have my original Grimms fairytale book, I love the pictures and to this day still look through the book....5*
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Mica_K
Oct 31, 2008 @ 12:49 am | in reply to dc64 | delete
- Hi dc64, you must have had so much fun living in Germany! Don't you just love the little towns!
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by Mica_K
Loves seaweed, passionate about travel, experimenting on herbs -- and currently, edible flower recipes and feng shui!
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