This year marks the 200th anniversary of the publishing of Kinder- und Hausmärchen (Children’s and Household Tales) by brothers Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm. To celebrate this prodigious year, the town of Marburg has raised a series of tributes dedicated to the pair who began their collection of stories there while studying law. I have succeeded in visiting a number of them and would love to take you on the highlights of this journey. And don’t worry, while my directions are a bit mysterious, you can always get a map from the Tourist Info center!
Start: Elisabethkirche
1) "Der Hase und Der Igel” (The Hare and the Hedgehog): Similar to today’s "The Tortoise and the Hare," in this tale, a hare is tricked into running a race with a hedgehog who wins every time (with the help of his wife). The path begins with the male hedgehog and ends with the female. Hint: start near Steinweg 19 (male) and end near Barfüßerstraße 7 (female); check the windows!
2) "Der Wolf und die 7 Jungen Geisslein” (The Wolf and the Seven Young Kids): A classic story of a wolf tricking a family of goats into letting him in. Of course, the goats get their revenge. Hint: can be seen walking up towards the altstadt (old city) on Steinweg.
3) “Der Froschkönig” (The Frog-King): The story doesn’t end with the iconic kiss everyone associates with the Princess and the Frog (it's more like a fast throw to a brick wall). In any case, you can find the Frog Prince dreaming of his beloved somewhere by a Wasserscheide (drinking fountain) on your way to the altstadt. Hint: look up!
4) “Das Tapfere Schneiderlein” (The Brave Little Tailor): Also known as “Seven in One Blow,” the story focuses on a tailor and how his cleverness leads to a place in the king’s court. Located on the left of the Rathaus, the flies that begin the story should not be hard to miss. Hint: you’ll need a huge fly swatter to get the flies off of here.
5) Grimm-Wohnhaus: This isn’t a story, but the house where the brothers Grimm lived during their stay in Marburg! Walk past the Rathaus onto Barfüßstraße and look for number 35--there should be a plaque exhibiting the dates of their stay located between the windows on the second floor.
6) “Schneewittchen” (Snow White): Brought to life by Walt Disney, the stories are almost identical (with a few less gruesome details in the Disney version). The iconic seven dwarves can be found making their way up to the Schloß. Walk past the Pfarrkirche St. Marien and take Landgraf-Philipp-Straße. Hint: no place is too narrow for these little men to march up.
7) "Aschenputtel” (Cinderella): Another fairy tale we have grown to love through Disney animation. In the Grimm version, Cinderella cherishes not a glass slipper but a golden shoe; however, for convenience' sake, the city of Marburg chose to go with a red high heel. Hint: Cinderella lost her shoe leaving the schloß; perhaps if you make your way to Bückingsgarten for a drink, you’ll find it!
End: Schloß
