Hanau between Fairy Tales, Goldsmithing and River History
Accommodation in Hanau
Hanau brings together fairy-tale sites and historic buildings, museums, a landscape park rich in historic monuments, and cycle routes along the Main. The city can be explored from different perspectives: from the Grimm heritage in the city centre to church and museum history, and the paths and grounds of Wilhelmsbad. Which of these themes you choose to focus on may also shape your choice of accommodation.
History and Craftsmanship in Hanau
The German Goldsmiths’ House is a half-timbered building in the Late Renaissance style and is used as a museum of gold- and silversmithing. Craftsmanship is also part of the city’s more recent history: the Großauheim Museum displays a steam-powered engine with a threshing machine, a steam tractor and a small tractor with an internal combustion engine made by Josef Bautz. Bautz manufactured tractors in Großauheim in the 1950s.
The Walloon-Dutch Church in Hanau’s New Town tells a different story. It was built between 1600 and 1608 for Walloon and Dutch religious refugees who had settled there from 1597 onwards. At St Mary’s Church, the history of the building can be read in a specific feature: its Gothic choir was added to the small chapel between 1485 and 1492 and is now the oldest surviving building in Hanau’s Old Town.
The Historical Museum Hanau Schloss Philippsruhe focuses on the history of the city and Europe. Its collections comprise around 20,000 objects dating from the Middle Ages to the present day. Together with the historic buildings and the Goldsmiths’ House, they offer more than a single focus on history: you can explore Hanau through its architecture, religious history, craftsmanship and urban development.
Grimm Sites for Curious Visitors of All Ages
The Brothers Grimm National Monument was unveiled on 18 October 1896 and has since become a landmark and central meeting place for the people of Hanau. The Hanau Fairy-Tale Trail features ten fairy-tale sculptures in the city centre, as well as the sites of the former birthplaces and homes of the Grimm family and the National Monument in Neustädter Marktplatz. This means you can encounter fairy-tale motifs not only in the museum, but also at several places throughout the city.
At Schloss Philippsruhe, GrimmsMärchenReich explores fairy tales in an interactive and multimedia format. Germany’s first hands-on Brothers Grimm museum offers seven fairy-tale worlds for children and adults across more than 340 square metres. If you are also interested in goldsmithing, children aged eight and over can make their own piece of jewellery in a workshop at the German Goldsmiths’ House, under the guidance of qualified goldsmiths.
Discover Wilhelmsbad and Hanau by Bike
Several distinctive features and places shape a visit to Wilhelmsbad. They include the Carousel Building, constructed as a Roman circular temple; Schneckenberg, a hill with a viewing point; Devil’s Gorge with its swaying suspension bridge; an artificial castle ruin; and a man-made pond with an island. If you would rather be on the move, you can use the Green Ring for walks, hikes or cycling; there are numerous places to eat along the route.
In Hanau, the Main Cycle Route runs along the left bank of the Main in the districts of Klein-Auheim and Steinheim. A guided cycling tour goes from the city library at Schlossplatz via Wilhelmsbad Kurpark to Schloss Philippsruhe and the Historical Museum Hanau, then follows the Main to Steinheim and continues through the historic old town to the Renaissance palace of the Electors of Mainz. A knowledgeable guide explains the historical background along the way. The Hessian long-distance cycle route R3 runs from Rüdesheim am Rhein via Wiesbaden, Hanau, Gelnhausen, Schlüchtern and Fulda to Tann in the Rhön. Check the latest route details before setting off.
The wider destination of Main-Kinzig-Kreis also provides a way to understand the course of the Kinzig: it rises in the northeast of the district near Sinntal-Sterbfritz and flows into the Main in Hanau. This regional river history offers a distinct geographical perspective on Hanau, in addition to the specific sections of the Main Cycle Route in the city’s districts.
Choose the Right Focus for Your Stay
When searching for a holiday apartment in Hanau, it may help to first decide what you want your days to be like. The Fairy-Tale Trail, National Monument and GrimmsMärchenReich offer a different focus from churches, collections and architectural history; Wilhelmsbad and the cycle routes add walks, hikes and bike rides to the mix. If you are travelling with children, the fairy-tale worlds designed specifically for children and adults, as well as the goldsmithing workshop for children aged eight and over, are specific activities to consider.
Discover more destinations: Steinau An Der Straße, Gelnhausen, Biebergemünd, Niederdorfelden, Langenselbold, Flörsbachtal, Jossgrund, Bruchköbel.
Return to the wider travel overview: Main-Kinzig-Kreis.
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