Vivid Happiness

Germany is well known for its major contributions to art, architecture, music, and literature over the centuries. Visitors to this lovely country will find historic medieval towns, exquisite ancient buildings, and art treasures. Unfortunately, much of Germany’s old world architecture was destroyed during the 2 World Wars. But, the vivid history of the country and its many cultural riches remain intact.

Art lovers flock to Germany to see the masters of German Romanticism and the French Impressionists at Hamburg House, the Kunsthalle in Hamburg. They travel back in time in time in the “holy city” of Cologne where visitors can spend days discovering alter pieces from the 15th century German masters and examples of the Dutch and Flemish period artists such as Rubens at the Wallraff-Richartz Museum.

Biedermeier, Kadinsky, Mark, and Macke are still alive in Munich with works from the early 1800’s through the 20th century taking the forefront in the city’s many galleries and museums. And don’t forget Berlin. A city once divided now celebrates reunification with an excellent memorial museum on the Berlin Wall itself and the National Museum designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.

But is there something else? Sometimes it is fun to travel off the beaten path. This is certainly possible for art and architecture lovers visiting Germany. An entire driving tour has been organized around the wonderful and imaginative fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm.

The Maerchenstrasse, the Fairy Tale Road, meanders through some of the most beautiful countryside and forests in Germany. The Brothers Grimm traveled far and wide to collect local lore for their tales and the Maerchenstrasse will allow you to follow in their footsteps. You will drive through deep, dark woods where you can expect to see a gnome or goblin pop out from behind a tree and see
the beauty of medieval village architecture.

The Maerchenstrasses begins in Hanau, the birthplace of Wilhelm and Jakob Grimm, just outside of Frankfurt am Main. This quaint town pays homage to the brothers with a grand monument erected in 1898 at the Neustaedter Markplatz. After touring the home site of the Wilhelm and Jakob you will next head just outside town to Gelnhausen, a castle and village founded by the emperor Barbarossa in the 12th century.

A short drive along Fairy Tale road will bring you Fulda, a town famous for its cathedral. The St. Boniface cathedral was erected in 1704 and is stunning. Visitors and pilgrims alike come to see this massive gothic style structure set in the middle of the German forests. A baroque stone arch welcomes you to the town and the best views can be found at the Bishop’s Palace which overlooks the city.

Leaving Fulda will place you on the road to the Vogelsberg Mountains and the village of Lauterbach. This town is world famous for producing garden gnomes – they make over 60,000 gnomes every year.  Lauterbach has numerous examples of the half-timber architecture popular during the time of the Brothers Grimm. Devil’s Mill is perhaps the best example of a half-timbered home in all of
Germany. Spend time here strolling down cobblestone streets and visiting the many neighboring castles.

Deep in the Maerchenstrasse you will come to the reputed home of Little Red Riding Hood. Kassel and the Reinhards Forest gave birth to
many of the witches, dozing princesses, and odd beasts in the tales of Wilhelm and Jakob Grimm. You be delighted to see that many Kassel natives still wear traditional costumes. Young girls continue wear the red cap that was the basis for Little Red Riding Hood. Kassel is also home to the Brueder Grimm Museum which contains gorgeous illuminations, paintings, and other interesting icons of the 1500s and 1600s. Who knows, one of the costumes on display may have belonged to Little Red Riding Hood’s grandmother!

In Goettingen, the next stop on the Maerchenstrasse, you will find visitors kissing a stone statue. “The Little Goose Girl” is said to bring luck to those who kiss her; she is the most kissed statue in the world.  Also in the area around Goettingen is Trendelburg Castle, the mythical home of Rapunzel.

Near the end of the Maerchenstrasse you will find the castle made famous by Sleeping Beauty. In Sababurg, a deeply forested area, the local castle still stands as a reminder of the lovely sleeping princess. The ancient medieval castle, complete with briar roses in the courtyard, is now a romantic hotel.

You journey on the Maerchenstrasse will end in Bremen, home to the Bremen Town Musicians. This town is a wonderful place to relax after your tour of the Fairy Tale Road. For one last architectural treat you can visit the gilded 16th century town hall, Schotting and see the unsurpassed artisti wonders in the Focke Museum.

Enjoy Germany, home to sculptures by Henry Moore, paintings by Edvard Munch, examples of Bauhaus, surrealist, and Expressionist art. But remember, sometimes the most interesting trips can be found off the beaten path – on the Fairy Tale Road.

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