We have all heard of the Brothers Grimm, but likely, it is the more festive Disney version that transported us through the years while reading bedtime stories about Little Red Riding Hood, Hansel and Gretel, and even Cinderella.
As Germany prepares to celebrate the Brothers Grimm 200th anniversary and the Fairytale Road; it’s also a good chance to read the real Brothers Grimm fairytales and discover the “real” fairy tale endings.
From festivals to exhibitions, the Fairytale Road is all Grimm all the time for 2013 and the best place to start a trip into this magical destination is by flying into Frankfurt. From there, head north to Hamelin, which is about a two hour train ride from the airport. Hamelin is home to the Pied Piper Fairy Tale, where all the children went missing after the Pied Piper came to town. The town took the legend and turned it into a lot of fun for all ages with musicals and even a museum called Hamelin Museum, which is where the Pied Piper Theater is located and the unique tale is told in a modern production.
Spend a couple of nights in Hamelin, then head to Kassel where the Brothers Grimm lived for almost 30 years. Kassel holds an annual Brothers Grimm Festival in July and August, and it is home to the Brothers Grimm Museum. This year the museum is playing host to the highlight of the Grimm 2013 Anniversary – the “EXPEDITION GRIMM” exhibition, located in documenta-Halle and sponsored by the State of Hessen.
From Apr. 27 until Sept. 8, some of the brother’s most precious manuscripts and personal mementos will be on display. This unique exhibition also sheds new light into who the Brothers Grimm really were: Far from being mere fairy tale collectors, they were also language scholars, legal historians, and politicians
For another guided tour, visit Steinau where you can enjoy the Brothers Grimm House from their childhood and the Puppet Theatre, before taking the afternoon train to Hanau. The two brothers, Jacob and Wilhelm, were born in Hanau and to that end; the city offers guided tours exploring the local sites connected to their history.
At the market square, in front of the Baroque Neustädter Rathaus (town hall) stands the Brothers Grimm memorial and this is the official starting point of the 373 mile-long Fairy Tale Road.
Take note too, the Grimm Fairy Tale Festival held in Hanau from May 1 to July 1 each year is the biggest Brothers Grimm festival and folks come from all over to enjoy the performances each year.
For more information and details about the festival visit the Fairytale Road.