Discover Steinau an der Straße

Fortification architecture and a grand castle building

Steinau Castle is one of the most significant Renaissance castles in Hesse. Its distinctive feature is the combination of fortification architecture and a grand castle building. These two aspects offer an accessible introduction to the history of the building: the castle can be viewed not only as a grand building, but also in terms of its fortification design. Anyone interested in historic architecture will find a tangible starting point here for observing the different functions reflected in the castle’s appearance.

The castle also houses an exhibition dedicated to the brothers Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. Jacob Grimm (1785–1863) and Wilhelm Grimm (1786–1859) were philologists and collectors of folk tales. The exhibition thus connects the place with both aspects of their work. Those interested in the collectors of folk tales can encounter them here in the context of the castle; the Brothers Grimm House offers a different way to explore their story.

The Brothers Grimm House and fairy tales to experience

Today’s Brothers Grimm House Steinau museum is the former district office where the Grimm family lived. Its use as a museum is directly linked to this history of the place. Unlike the castle, which houses an exhibition dedicated to Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, the Brothers Grimm House focuses on the brothers’ fairy tales, offering an interactive experience: visitors can see, hear and feel them using interactive features.

For families who want to discover fairy tales as more than just stories to read, this format offers a special way to engage with them. The different sensory impressions provide a distinct focus compared with the exhibition at the castle. Those who include both places in their trip can therefore explore two different themes: the architecture and exhibition at the castle, and the fairy tales and their interactive presentation in the former district office.

Steinau on two themed routes

Steinau lies on the 600-kilometre German Fairy Tale Route. It runs from Hanau via Steinau to Bremen. This places the town on a route that follows the theme of fairy tales over a longer distance. This connection may be of interest when planning your trip if you want to consider Steinau not in isolation, but also turn your attention to the wider stretch of the Fairy Tale Route.

The German Timber-Frame Road offers a second route perspective. Steinau also lies on this route, which runs from the Weser Uplands through North Hesse to the Vogelsberg and Spessart. The two routes therefore have different thematic focuses. The Fairy Tale Route connects Steinau with the Brothers Grimm and the theme of fairy tales, while the Timber-Frame Road follows a course through the landscapes named above. These route connections offer an additional perspective on the town without needing to combine them into a single route.

Choose the focus of your stay

When choosing a holiday apartment in Steinau an der Straße, the kind of trip you have in mind may be decisive: Would you like to focus mainly on the castle, its architectural history and the Grimm exhibitions, or are you also drawn to the town’s place on the German Fairy Tale Route and the German Timber-Frame Road? This question can help you shape your stay around a theme without assuming a particular location for your accommodation. If the fairy tales themselves are your main interest, the Brothers Grimm House museum offers a different experience from the castle exhibition through seeing, hearing and feeling. Those interested in architecture, on the other hand, can make the combination of fortification and castle architecture a special focus.

If you would like to visit other destination pages, you can also find Maintal, Freigericht, Ronneburg, Linsengericht, Sinntal, Jossgrund, Bad Soden-Salmünster and Hammersbach here.

For the overarching travel overview: Main-Kinzig district.