What
do fairy tales, a bat cave and amusement park rides have in common?
Not much, unless of course, you’re talking about the various
attractions available in the medieval town of
As the home of famed
fairy tale collectors Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, better known as the Brothers
Grimm, from 1791-1796, Steinau, like Hanau (their
birthplace) is a stopping point on the German Fairy Tale Road. The young yarn
spinners spent five years of their formative years in Steinau
while their father served as a public servant in the town.
Various sights in town reference these notable luminaries
including museums in the Brüder Grimm Haus and Steinau Castle, several
whimsical statues, a fountain in the town square, gift shops and a Marionette
Theater featuring presentations of well-known fairy tales.
Besides the charm of wandering through a town reeking of
medieval history — colorfully painted half-timbered houses, churches and a
spectacular castle — one is constantly aware of the presence of magical
creatures in the form of sculptures such as the talking frog and his skeptical
princess outside the Brüder Grimm Haus.
Stop to cool your face in the fountain in the town square and you’ll discover a
collection of fairy tale depictions in the form of stone — Rapunzel
letting down her hair from the tower, dragons, Cinderella and others.
The Brüder Grimm Haus is open from
Steinau’s
castle alone is worth a visit. Dating back to before 1200, the bulk of the
still standing fortification was constructed from 1528-1555. Having served as
the home for various local rulers, it was once the residence of the Counts of
Hanau and was spared the fate of many local castles, being destroyed by French
invaders, because it was occupied by French troops in the early 19th century.
The state of Hessen assumed responsibility for the
castle’s upkeep in 1945 and it now serves as home to renters in addition to
featuring a museum showcasing the town’s history among other exhibits.
Visitors can climb up
into the castle tower for a lofty view of Steinau and
the surrounding countryside. Admission to the tower is Euro 1 for adults and 50
cents for children.
The castle museum is
open from
Situated just outside the castle in the former castle stable
is a Marionette Theater featuring both youth and adult fables told with
puppets.
But history and fairy tales are not the only attractions to Steinau an der
Strasse.
Amusement park
Youngsters may get a
kick out of the various amusements at the Erlebnispark
Steinau. Situated in the hills
above the town, the amusement park and grill area feature rides ranging from
swings to a summer bobsled run, petting zoos and a large playground.
Similar to the Lochmühle in the
Admission to the park is Euro 8 for adults, Euro 7 for
children and free for anyone under 90 centimeters
tall. It is open daily from
Visitors who would prefer spending more time in the outdoors
both above and below ground will get a kick out of the nearby Teufels- or Tropfsteinhöhle in
the forest just north of Steinau. Upon approaching the
town after leaving the A-66 in the direction of
The cave got its first name some 400 years ago when a local
farmer was convinced that the devil had reached out of a hole in the ground and
snatched away one of his cows. Farmers, in solidarity with the grieving
cowherd, decided to fill the cave with rocks to prevent the devil from
reappearing. Despite their best intentions they were unable to muster enough
stone to fill the opening in the earth and thereafter stayed away from the cave
in fear that the devil would reappear.
Visitors to the cave today can learn
these facts and more from the cave guide who will describe how people began
exploring the cave in the late 19th century. After descending into the cavern
with ropes, it was decided to dig a new entrance and clear away the huge amount
of rocks that had been dumped into the cave by the fearful farmers.
The cave guide will point out various critters who call the
underground chambers home including large spiders and salamanders and describe
the bat colony that descends into the “bat hotel” every winter to hibernate.
For that reason the cave is closed to the public during the winter months.
The Tropfsteinhöhle is open from
The region in and around Steinau,
including the nearby town of
Hiking and biking enthusiasts will discover a wealth of
trails all around Steinau.
Other nearby sights include the
source of the