It’s been hard not to sing the Little Red Riding diddy in my head when thinking about the Hessian town of Schauenburg. Oh, don’t pretend you don’t know it, “Over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house we go.”
Except in this case you’re not going to good ol’ grannie’s, you’ll find yourself in a wonderland of the Brothers Grimm. Maybe this is why Schauenburg is on the German Fairtytale Road? Ohhh, am I a smart one? ;-)
In addition, there is a weekly fairytale dedication to the Brothers Grimm every Sunday from 3pm-6pm at Langstrasse 2.
Come see what village life was really like with clothing and other little tidbits at appropriately named Village Life Museum. There is no entrance fee, but the museum is only open on the 1st Sunday of the month from 2pm-5pm.
Even within the Nature Park Habichtswald are more little sites that would make the Grimm Brothers proud. It’ll be the coldest of hearts that won’t love the Löwenburg Castle, that isn’t the medieval ruin it leads you on to believe. It wasn’t built until the 1800’s and wasn’t a ruin until bombings from World War II did the burg in.
However, Landgrave Wilhelm XI had a vision of the medieval when everyone else was building the Baroque. Hats off to the good Count, for incredible taste.
When the castle has fascinated you enough (not possible in my eyes; but, it could happen) there are many other activities within the Park; like soaking in a thermal bath, ride a horse, bicycle, or take a glider plane ride. Come winter, add skiing or snow mobiling to the mix of it all.
PLUS (no, not done yet), Schauenburg has four walking trails to keep you busy enough. One keeps with the fairtytale theme; another is just your average walking route through the forest (no, it’s not enchanted); the third is an ecological friendly archaeological route, and the fourth is known as the Eco Path Altenburg & Falkenstein — sound good, right?
Finish your stay in Schauenburg on the Hessencourrier, a historic steam train that follows along flowered meadows, under old stone bridges, and just transports you back to the golden age of the railroad.
With transport like that, I don’t think Little Red had it so good on her way to Oma’s (that would be grandmom’s; but, we’re in Germany — remember? ;-)
