Page 515 - Lonely Planet Europe’s Best Trips (Travel Guide)

fairy tales). He inspired
the Terry Gilliam cult THE FAIRY TALE ROAD
film, The Adventures of
Baron Munchausen. The 600km Märchenstrasse (Fairy Tale Road; www.
Bodenwerder’s deutsche-maerchenstrasse.com/en) is one of Germany’s
principal attraction, the most popular tourist routes, with over 60 stops
Münchhausen Museum along the way. It’s made up of cities, towns and
(%05533-409 147; Münch- hamlets in four states (Hesse, Lower Saxony, North
hausenplatz 1; adult/child Rhine-Westphalia and Bremen), which can often be
€2.50/1.50; h10am-5pm reached by using a choice of roads rather than one
Apr-Oct), tackles the single route. The towns are associated in one way or
difficult task of convey- another with the works of Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm.
ing the chaos and fun Although most towns can be easily visited using
associated with the ‘liar public transport, a car lets you fully explore the route.
baron’ – a man who
liked to regale dinner brass rats adorn the sights
guests with his Crimean around town. GERMANY 36 GERMAN FAIRY TALE ROAD
adventures, claiming he Rodents aside, Hame- b Hanover
had, for example, tied his lin (Hameln in German) Known for its huge trade
horse to a church steeple is a pleasant town with shows, Hanover has a
during a snow drift and half-timbered houses and past: from 1714, monarchs
ridden around a dining opportunities for cycling from the house of Hanover
table without breaking along the Weser River, also ruled Great Britain
one teacup. Among other on the eastern bank of and the entire British Em-
artefacts, it also has which lies Hamelin’s pire for over a century.
paintings and displays of circular Altstadt. The Let your hair down
Münchhausen books in town’s heart is its Markt. at the spectacularly
many languages. baroque Herrenhäuser
Many of Hamelin’s Gärten (% 0511-1683 4000;
The Drive » The unofficial finest buildings were www.hannover.de/Herren-
spine for some of the Fairy constructed in the Weser
Tale Road route, the B83 again Renaissance style, which hausen; Herrenhäuser Strasse
takes you north, for 23km from has strong Italian influ- 4; general admission free;
Bodenwerder to Hamelin. h9am-6pm, grotto to 5.30pm
ences. Learn more at the Apr-Oct, 9am-4.30pm, grotto
town’s revamped Muse- to 4pm Nov-Mar; XHannover
TRIP HIGHLIGHT um Hamelin (%05151-202 Herrenhäuser Gärten), the
a Hamelin 1215; www.museum-hameln. grandiose baroque Royal
According to the Brothers de; Osterstrasse 8-9; adult/ Gardens of Herrenhausen,
concession €5/4; h11am-
Grimm in The Pied Piper 6pm Tue-Sun), which has which are considered one
of Hamelin, in the 13th historical displays. of the most important
century the Pied Piper historic garden landscapes
(Der Rattenfänger) was 54 p517 in Europe. Inspired by
employed by Hamelin’s the gardens at Versailles,
townsfolk to lure its ro- The Drive » Leave the they’re a great place to
pastoral charms of Hamelin as
dents into the river. When you drive 47km northwest on slow down and smell the
they refused to pay him, the B217 to the modern vibe of roses for a couple of hours,
he picked up his flute and busy Hanover. especially on a blue-sky
led their kids away. Today, day. With its fountains,
the rats rule once again neat flowerbeds, trimmed
– fluffy and cute stuffed hedges and shaped lawns,
rats, wooden rats, and tiny the 300-year-old Grosser

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