Celebrate 50 years of the German Fairytale Route ahead of Snow White’s UK release Celebrate 50 years of the German Fairytale Route ahead of Snow White’s UK release

As excitement builds for the release of Snow White (2025), now is the perfect time to look at the source material behind both the new movie and the ever-popular 1937 Disney animated classic.

First published in 1812, Snow White is one of hundreds of German folk tales written down by the Brothers Grimm. Other fairytales we have the pair to thank for include Cinderella, Rapunzel and Sleeping Beauty.

But reading Grimms’ Fairy Tales isn’t the only way you can experience the originals – you can also follow the German Fairytale Route. Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, the route takes you through the real-life locations that inspired the pair, including Sleeping Beauty’s home in Sababurg Castle and Rapunzel’s Tower within the Trendelburg Fortress.

Covering 600km from Hanau to Bremen, there are 70 locations for you to visit, including towns where the Brothers Grimm were born, lived and studied.

With events going on across the route as part of celebrations for the major anniversary, there’s no better time to visit – which is exactly why we included Germany on our 2025 Good to Go list.

Looking to explore by foot rather than by bike or car? You can also hike the 35km Snow White Trail across the seven mountains of the Spessart Nature Park.

Said to be the route Snow White took when fleeing Castle Lohr am Main, the character is meant to have headed to the village of Bieber where she lived with the seven dwarfs. The former has been transformed into the Spessartmuseum, which covers the history of the surrounding forest and has an exhibition on Snow White.

Plus, you can also stay at the new Grimm’s Hotel in Hanau, which is set to open later this spring.

More information: germany.travel.

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