Hanau, now with about 90,000 inhabitants the 6th biggest town in Hessen, evolved from a former moated castle, around which a small settlement was founded. In 1303, this settlement was granted town and market rights by King Albrecht I, and thus experienced new growth. A suburb emerged, which later on was protected with its own walls.

Another major reason for further growth and economic development was the decision by Count Ludwig II to allow protestant refugees from France and from the Spanish Netherlands to settle in Hanau. They brought capital as well as technology. As the residential seat of the Counts of Hanau, the town was given a Renaissance wall system and adorned with beautiful buildings.

One of the important sights to see in Hanau is the Deutsche Goldschmiedehaus (House of German Jewellery), a former town hall, Church Marienkirche, the Hanau City Palace and the Palace Park in the Old Town Quarter.  Visitors interested in the history of German language or else remembering their Grimm´s Fairytales (One upon a time...) will want to see the Grimm-Nationaldenkmal (National Grimm Monument) in the New Town Quarter (Neustadt).

A bit farther away, on the banks of the river Main, Palace Philippsruhe waits for visitors, along with the Historische Museum Hanau (Hanau History Museum) and the Kuranlage Wilhelmsbad (Wilhelmsbad Spa). Trips to the Wildpark Alte Fasanerie (a zoo for local wildlife) in Klein-Auheim and to the picturesque Old Town Quarter of Steinheim with its ensembles of half-timbered houses are recommended.

Thematic routes and bicycle trekking routes

Hanau is the starting point of the Deutsche Märchenstraße (German Fairytales Route) which ends in Bremen. Also the Deutsche Limesstraße (German Limes Route) passes through Hanau, as the Deutsche Fachwerkstraße (German Half-timbered Houses Route) passes through Steinheim. Steinheim is also the starting point of the Hesse Cidre and Orchard Route. The Hessische Radweg R3 (Hessian Bicycle Trekking Route 3, Rhine-Main-Kinzig) leads through Hanau, as well as the Main-Radweg (River Main Bicycle Trail) which starts at the springs of the Main River and ends where it joins Rhine River near Mainz.

Events

At the last weekend of August the Cidre Festival is organized in Steinheim – fans of Hesse and its cider should not miss it!

Fans of Fairytales should not forget the Brüder Grimm Märchenfestspiele (Brothers Grimm Fairytale Festival) which are staged each year from May to July/August in the amphitheatre in the Park of Philippsruhe Palace.

The concerts organized annually under the name of “Philippsruhe Schlosskonzerte” with their program of classical music are worth to be attended as well.

Further information (only German): http://www.hanau.de/tourismus/

Photo: ER_09/Shutterstock