Steinau an der Strasse - with the Brothers Grimm house

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: August 2026 | Steinau an der Strasse is a small German town that is primarily known for being where the Brothers Grimm grew up. The German Fairy Tale Road passes through the town and here you can visit the Brothers Grimm's childhood home, among other things.

Steinau on the road

Steinau an der Strasse is a charming town where you can check out a medieval castle and immerse yourself in the Brothers Grimm fairy tales. We made a short stop here with our motorhome during our summer motorhome trip in Germany.

The city is located seven miles north-east of Frankfurt am Main, in the federal state of Hesse in central Germany.

Steinau on the road

When we arrived in Steinau an der Strasse, we immediately felt that we had arrived in a half-timbered idyll. Perhaps it's not surprising, given that the town is located on the German holiday route."Korsvirkesvägen”.

One of the most prominent buildings in Steinau an der Strasse is the town hall, located on the square. Right next to it is the Catherine Church (Katharinenkirche), which dates back to the Middle Ages and is today used for both religious services and cultural events.

In the square there is also the fountain "Märchenbrunnen" (fairy tale fountain). But it was not only here we saw different animals ...

... but also in a window, where two very lively cats were watching. This is always a bit of a fairytale town!

The castle in Steinau (Schloss Steinau)

Steinau Castle (Schloss Steinau) is considered one of the most important Renaissance castles in Hesse. From the outside, the building has the character of a fortified castle, while the interior tells more about life at the castle during the Renaissance.

The castle was probably founded as early as the 13th century, when it had a prime location along the important medieval trade route between Frankfurt and Leipzig. However, its current appearance dates mainly from the 16th century, when it was converted into a Renaissance castle for the Counts of Hanau.

In the 19th century, the castle began to be used by state institutions and today it functions as a museum. We never took the time to visit the inside, but there is an exhibition about the Brothers Grimm. Parts of the castle's historical rooms can also be experienced during guided tours.

Brothers Grimm House and Museum

The Grimm brothers, Jacob and Wilhelm, were five and six years old respectively when they moved to Steinau with their parents and siblings in 1791. Their father, Philipp Wilhelm Grimm, was himself born in Steinau and now moved back for a good job as "amtmann", which can perhaps be compared to a bailiff. Because of this fine service, the whole family was able to move into the house known as the "Amtshaus".

Today the house where the brothers grew up is on display, along with a museum that tells the story of the brothers' life and work. When we were here, a lot of the information was in German, so we had a bit of trouble absorbing it all, but it was still rewarding to see the place, which tells the story of the brothers.

The Brothers Grimm are considered some of the most important figures in European cultural history. Their Children's and household fairy tales has been listed in UNESCO's Memory of the World register since 2005.

The Brothers Grimm were German linguists best known for collecting and adapting folk tales. And surely tales like these are a collective heritage today? For example, do you remember ...

• Hansel and Gretel
• Cinderellas
• Red Riding Hood
• The City Musicians of Bremen
• Snow White
• Sleeping Beauty?

German Sagovägen

If you like fairy tales, you can choose to follow the entire German holiday route German Sagovägen (Deutsche Märchenstraße). The more than 1,000-kilometer route starts in Hanau, the birthplace of the Brothers Grimm, and passes through a large number of places connected to fairy tales, legends and the Brothers Grimm. Along the way, you pass Kassel, where you can visit the Grimmwelt, and Bremen with the famous city musicians.

Steinau an der Strasse with motorhome

We only made a stop in Steinau for the day and therefore did not spend the night here with the camper. For our part, the journey later continued on to Würzburg, where we spent the night at the Friedensbrücke campsite.

More things to see and do near Steinau an der Strasse

If you want to learn more about the Brothers Grimm, it might be worth taking a trip to the city of Kassel, where you will find the exhibition "Grimmwelt". We can also recommend a visit to Würzburg. Read more here:

• The residence in Würzburg
• Things to do in Wurzburg