Fairy Tale Germany
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Daily Itinerary

May 20 Romantic Heidelberg

Arriving in romantic Heidelberg, our journey starts with a befitting opening act in the most charming town of Heidelberg. Tracing its roots to the 5th century, Heidelberg is home to Germany’s oldest university, established in 1386. Our trip leader, Prof. Karin Baumgartner, will introduce us to the city and the era of Romanticism. We will hear about Clemens Brentano, who inspired the Brothers Grimm to collect fairy tales. Heidelberg’s history and delightful architecture is the perfect starting point for the Romantic journey to the origin of the Grimm fairy tales. We will have dinner at the Red Ox, the most famous tavern in Heidelberg, operating for over 180 years. See the guestbook with the signatures of Mark Twain, Marilyn Monroe and many others.

Hotel: Heidelberger Hof in Heidelberg

Meals: D

May 21: Of German writers and poets

Heidelberg Castle has seen its share of warfare. A morning stroll through the town and a visit to the castle will set the tone for the day. In the afternoon, you will stroll on the Philosopher’s Walk where Heidelberg’s university professors and philosophers enjoyed the charming view of the Neckar River. The view, one of the most beautiful in all of Germany, inspired poets like Eichendorff and Hölderlin. Our private luxury coach will then take us to the land of Little Red Riding Hood. We will stay in Gelnhausen, in a 400-year old half-timbered house that is the birthplace of famous German poet Hans Jacob Christoffel von Grimmelshausen. After exploring the delightful little town, you will enjoy a gourmet dinner in an old wine cellar.

Hotel: Grimmelshausen Hotel in Gelnhausen

Meals: B, D

May 22: The life and works of Brothers Grimm

The morning will take us to Steinau an der Strasse where the Brothers Grimm spent their childhood years. A guided tour of the home will help us understand what shaped the brothers to become writers and scholars. We will learn about tragedy in their lives and how they overcame the odds just like their fairy tale characters did. Steinau an der Strasse is the perfect setting for a fairy tale. After a hearty lunch at the village inn, our private coach will take us to the mineral springs and natural spa baths of Bad Hersfeld. Today, Germany has nearly 900 spa resorts, including mineral and mud spas, climatic health resorts (known for fresh air), sea-side resorts, and Kneipp hydrotherapy spa resorts. A visit to the spa was a must for nineteenth-century travelers who enjoyed hydrotherapy, exercise, and good nutrition. The afternoon is yours to spend at the spa enjoying the natural spring water (included) or a healing treatment (additional cost).

Hotel: Hotel an der Therme Bad Hersfeld

Meals: B, L, D

May 23: The dark tales of German history

These dark and mysterious wooded mountains between Bavaria and Hesse - the Spessart Forest - were home to highwaymen and bandits during the 19th century and offered the Grimms a rich repertoire of tales. In the morning, we will visit a particularly dark place in German history, the Border Museum Schifflersgrund, where the Cold War fortifications between East and West Germany have been preserved. A German guide will teach us how the infamous inner-German wall kept Germany divided for 40 years. After lunch, we will hurry to the realm of Mother Hulda, who shakes out her bedding to let it snow in Germany. Our journey will take us to Hann. Münden and our beautiful half-timbered hotel. An optional excursion to Sleeping Beauty’s castle (Sababurg) will complete our day.

Hotel: Fachwerkhotel Eisenbart in Hann. Münden

Meals: B, L, D

May 24: Of kings and commoners

Unlike many historic towns in Germany, Hann. Münden escaped destruction in WWII. Over 700 half-timbered houses give us a spectacular insight into what Germany looked like when the Grimm Brothers collected their stories. After a guided tour through the town and after the famous Glockenspiel, our coach takes us to Kassel, where the Brothers Grimm worked for most of their lives. Here we will see the UNESCO World Heritage Site Castle and Park Wilhelmshöhe and its stunning Waterworks. The water features in the park have been operating for 300 years, without the need for pumps and utilizing solely the laws of physics. In their sophisticated orchestration of the elemental force of water, they are a stunning metaphor of the absolutist claim to power of the Landgraves of Hesse, who financed his folly by selling soldiers to the British to fight in the Revolutionary War. We will stay at the castle hotel and conclude our evening at the birthplace of one of the Grimms’ most prolific story tellers, Dorothea Viehmann. At a spectacular rustic dinner, the day will ring out with Dorothea’s stories and merriment.

Hotel: Schlosshotel Wilhelmshöhe in Kassel

Meals: B, D

May 25: The Grimm Brothers as scholars

A visit at Grimmwelt in Kassel will deepen our understanding of the Grimms’ genius. This day enhances our knowledge of the Grimm brothers as collectors and as scholars. You will see a first edition of the Grimms Children and Household Tales with the Grimms annotation for improvement. Explore Jacob Grimm’s quest to index every single word of the German language including all then known swear and curse words. A guided tour of the largest German museum dedicated to the Grimm Brothers takes up the morning, while the afternoon is dedicated to the Grimms as students in the enchanting city of Marburg. This old-fashioned university town looks very much like it did when the Grimms lived there as impoverished students. A leisurely stroll through the city, an opportunity to buy souvenirs and a traditional German dinner conclude this day.

Hotel: Vila Vita, Marburg

Meals: B, D

May 26: Of Castles and Wine

Equipped with a trove of historical knowledge, you are ready to storm one more castle, Fortress Ehrenbreitstein. This World Heritage site will teach us about the far reaches of the Prussian Kings after Napoleon’s defeat. Towering above the confluence of Moselle and Rhine Rivers and the city center of Koblenz, Ehrenbreitstein is an impressive symbol of the emerging power of Imperial Germany. Before we do so, we will have lunch at a German winery and taste the local wines at our leisure. After checking into our hotel overlooking the Rhine River, the evening is yours to explore on your own. See the confluence of Moselle and Rhine Rivers after which “Confluencia” is named. Explore the gigantic monument dedicated to Emperor Wilhelm I, find the Schängelbrunnen, a Koblenz landmark, or just enjoy strolling through the Baroque architecture of Koblenz.

Hotel: Hotel Morjan in Koblenz

Meals: B, L

May 27: Cruising down the Rhein

Hop on the boat! We are embarking on a cruise up the Rhine River. Over six hours of stunning views of vineyards and castles on a nostalgic paddle steamer. You will learn about one more famous legend: the fate of the beautiful Loreley. Just like British tourists at the height of Romanticism, we will indulge in a journey as if it were the late 1800s. In the late afternoon we get to the wine town of Rüdesheim where our coach will pick us up for our final destination: Frankfurt City. The group will enjoy a Farewell Dinner in one of the most popular German restaurants. On the way to dinner, stroll by the Goethe house and the famous cathedral of St. Paul.

Hotel: Hotel Victoria in Frankfurt

Meals: B, L, D

May 28: Auf Wiedersehen

Rich with memories and full of stories, you will say good-bye to your trip leader after breakfast. You will have received a unique, enchanting, and unforgettable view into Germany’s soul. The food eaten, the people met, the knowledge gained, all will leave you with a deep appreciation of this wonderful country and the stories collected by the Grimm Brothers. You will have lots to tell your friends and family at home, we promise!

Auf Wiedersehen means to “See you again!” We sure will!

Meals: B