Hofgeismar - Sababurg Sleeping Beauty Castle
Fantastic things:
Once upon a time...
there was a good landgrave. Not for the courtly hunt but for his interest in natural history, Willem IV established a zoological garden at the Sababurg in 1571.
Today, you can observe 450 animals of 80 different species at Sababurg Zoological Garden. In the near-by ancient forest, you may enjoy a hike under head-high ferns, 650-year-old oak trees and mighty beech trees. Already in 1907, this area was declared a nature preserve.
Enchanting places:
Sababurg fairytale castle of Brothers Grimm's Sleeping Beauty was founded in 1334 by the Archbishop of Mainz under the name of Zappenborgk to protect the pilgrims on their way to the nearby holy site of Gottsbüren. There, in the heart of Reinhardswald Forest, the Landgraves of Hesse erected a splendid hunting seat on the foundation walls of the original structure in 1490.
In the early 19th century, the castle was abandoned as a residence. The building complex rapidly fell into disrepair, converting to a wild romantic state. Already in the 19th century after the publication of the Brothers Grimm's Fairy Tales, people imagined this to be the place where the Sleeping Beauty tale must have happened:
The ‘sleeping' castle, entwined with ivy and deeply hidden in the Reinhardswald Forest, surrounded by a high wall that wassaid to have been the impenetrable thorn hedge...
Around 100 years later, the long sleep was over and the castle was kissed awake and restored for visitors.
Nowadays, the building complex includes a hotel, a restaurant and café, a civil registry office and the SabaBurg Theatre.
With the medieval castle garden, herb and vegetable garden, ascent of the tower and the romantic flair of decay, the castle is a place of discovery, with added charm during the rose season from end of May through August.
Two different guided tours are available:
A: On the building history of the Sleeping Beauty Castle, approx. 45 minutes, meeting place: courtyard.
B: On the castle garden and the roses of the Sleeping Beauty Castle, approx. 45 minutes, meet castle gardener Vroegh in the garden.
In addition, the Sleeping Beauty Castle offers two special welcoming ceremonies:
A personal cordial welcome by Sleeping Beauty and the prince presenting a version of their tale: approx. 15 minutes. Or:
Meet Count Reinhard in person.
Phone: 05671/8080
Fax: 05671/808200
eMail: dornroeschenschloss@sababurg.de
www.sababurg.de
