Region
The Reinhardswald, fairy-tale castles, the Bergpark and Kassel — and everything practical for an easy stay.
The tales around you
You live where the Brothers Grimm are at home. A quiet wink to “Hans im Glück”, who travelled home the happiest with empty hands.
Follow the story
Ring by ring from the forest at your window into the Brothers Grimm’s fairy-tale land — real places, real stories, a quiet magic.
Gut Waitzrodt, Immenhausen
You wake up and the forest is already at your window. Right here, at the edge of the Reinhardswald, the land of the Brothers Grimm begins — not in a book, but outside, within reach. Open the door. Let’s follow the story.
Hans im Glück · KHM 83
Immenhausen · 4 km · 8 Min
Sometimes happiness isn’t in what you own, but in what you let go. Immenhausen has made Hans its fairy-tale figure: since 2016 his bronze statue stands at the old town wall by the Eulenturm, at the corner fondly called “Glückswinkel”. From here the Märchenlandweg trail leads out towards Holzhausen.
Der Märchenwald
Naturpark Reinhardswald / Urwald Sababurg · 22 km · 25 Min
Ancient oaks bent into goblins by the weather, moss on fallen giants, mist between the trunks. The Reinhardswald is called the “fairy-tale forest” for a reason — here the Brothers Grimm found the stage for their best-known tales. The Sababurg primeval forest is Hesse’s oldest nature reserve.
Dornröschen · KHM 50
Sababurg, Hofgeismar · 24 km · 30 Min
A hundred years’ sleep, a hedge of thorns, a kiss that wakes it all — and in the middle of the forest a castle that carries the tale: the Sababurg, the Brothers Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty castle. Towers, old walls, climbing roses. An inspiration site, not a film set — the magic is in the real history.
Hofgeismar-Sababurg · 24 km · 30 Min
Right next to the Sleeping Beauty castle lies one of Europe’s oldest wildlife parks (founded 1571): bison, wild horses, red deer on wide forest meadows, plus birds-of-prey shows. The perfect place to experience the fairy-tale forest through children’s eyes.
Rapunzel · KHM 12
Trendelburg · 30 km · 35 Min
“Rapunzel, let down your hair.” High above the little town of Trendelburg stands the mighty keep — over 40 metres tall. Since 2012 you can climb its 130-plus steps again and look into Rapunzel’s tower. Today the castle is a hotel — you can even stay where the tale found its tower.
Frau Holle · KHM 24
Hoher Meißner, Frau-Holle-Land · 70 km · 70 Min
When Mother Holle shakes out her beds, it snows on earth. Her realm begins, they say, at the bottom of a still pond high on the Hoher Meißner. A wooden figure over three metres tall stands at its shore. Up here, between moor and wide views, diligent Goldmarie is at home.
Die Märchensammler
GRIMMWELT, Weinbergstraße 21, Kassel · 22 km · 25 Min
Behind every fairy tale are two brothers with a quill. Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm came to Kassel in 1798 and gathered their famous tales here — one of their key storytellers, Dorothea Viehmann of Niederzwehren, brought them the stories. GRIMMWELT on the Weinberg brings their work to life today: clever, modern, surprising.
Rotkäppchen · KHM 26
Schwalmstadt (Schwalm) · 60 km · 55 Min
Every child knows the red cap — and in the Schwalm they really wear it. The red “Betzel” bonnet of the Schwälmer costume is said to have inspired the Grimms’ Little Red Riding Hood. South of Kassel, in Rotkäppchenland, the tale becomes lived culture: costume, museums, villages from another age.
Die große Märchenstraße
Deutsche Märchenstraße · Weserbergland → Bremen
You’re standing on one of Germany’s loveliest holiday routes. Since 1975 the German Fairy-Tale Route has linked the Brothers Grimm’s life stations over 600 kilometres — from Hanau to the Bremen Town Musicians. Downstream wait the Pied Piper of Hamelin and Baron Munchausen. Follow it as far as you like.
Day trips
Day trip · family · ~25 km
130 ha, ~80 species, birds of prey – a whole day out.
Fairy tale · nature · ~25 km
Sleeping Beauty’s castle by the Sababurg primeval forest.
Fairy tale · ~30 km
Rapunzel’s tower – let down your hair.
Hiking · cycling · 0 km
Mossy paths and old oaks right at the door.
UNESCO · Kassel · ~25 km
Hercules & water features, UNESCO World Heritage.
Art · seasonal · ~20 km
documenta 16: 12 Jun–19 Sep 2027. Book early.
Practical map