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DISCOVERING THE FAIRYTALES OF GERMANY
Just out of Frankfurt, fairytale villages unfold along the German Fairy Tale Road of the Brothers Grimm. This route leads through medieval castles and enchanted woods to the enchanting towns of Bavaria.
After leaving Frankfurt and heading east, you come across the Wetterau plain, a fertile area in western Germany, located in Hesse. Here, among cultivated fields dotted with mixed forests, begins the famous German Fairy Tale Road, or Deutsche Märchenstraße, an evocative tourist route that winds for over 600 kilometres through Germany, connecting places linked to the life and tales of the Brothers Grimm.
This route passes through over 70 locations, each surrounded by castles, forests, and mystical natural landscapes, which set the scene for all the masterpieces by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm.
Among these, Hanau, Steinau an der Straße and Rothenburg ob der Tauber are certainly a must-visit.
Hanau, where tales begin
A half-hour drive from Frankfurt, Hanau is the native town of the Brothers Grimm, located on the banks of the Main; it is the starting point of the Deutsche Märchenstraße. Strolling through the historic centre, between the statue honouring them and the fairy tales scattered throughout the squares, one truly feels something bewitching is hovering in the air, because local legend suggests that the statues of Jacob and Wilhelm magically switch places at the stroke of midnight. 
The GrimmsMärchenReich Museum is an interactive exhibition dedicated to them and located in Schloss Philippsruhe Castle. Through multimedia installations and evocative sets, visitors can immerse themselves in the most famous tales, such as Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood or Hansel and Gretel.
Between markets, exhibitions, and local fairy tale festivals, Hanau retains a lively yet intimate atmosphere. Its architecture harmoniously combines modern buildings and reconstructions with historical charm. Dominating the landscape is the baroque Schloss Philippsruhe castle, an elegant testament to the princely past, recalling the settings of classical tales between dragons and princesses.
Steinau an der Straße and the childhood of the Grimm Brothers
Steinau an der Straße is a charming village in Hesse, located along the ancient trade route that connected Frankfurt to Leipzig, and part of the German Fairy Tale Road.
In the centre of the village is a 16th-century Renaissance castle, built of red sandstone and surrounded by an ancient moat. It seems that the very surroundings of the castle, together with the banks of the Kinzig River, were the magical places where the young Grimm brothers spent their childhood.
Gathered around the fire in the courtyards of the small village, they often listened to folk tales passed down orally by the women of the village, which later inspired them to write the famous collection “Children’s and Household Tales”.
Rothenburg ob der Tauber, the medieval tale of Bavaria
From Steinau an der Straße, you can continue south to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, a small village surrounded by rolling hills, woods and vineyards in Franconia, in the northern part of Bavaria. Rothenburg is one of the best-preserved medieval villages in Germany. Along its city walls, still intact for almost 4 km, you can observe the maze of cobblestone streets, perfectly restored half-timbered houses (Fachwerkhäuser) and wrought iron signs in a landscape that embodies the picturesque images typical of German Romantic literature. One of the most evocative attractions is Plönlein, a small intersection that is the postcard-perfect scene and absolutely worth capturing.
Don't miss Schneeball, a typical local dessert, born from a recipe that is about three hundred years old: a ball of shortcrust pastry woven into strips, then fried until golden and crispy, dusted with powdered sugar or covered with chocolate, icing, cinnamon, walnuts, or marzipan.
The combination of the mystical panorama and flavour brings you back to those fairy tales that have been passed.
