Historical Museum Hanau Schloss Philippsruhe / GrimmsMärchenReich

The Hanau Historical Museum of the city of Hanau is located in Philippsruhe Castle, which was modernized by Ferdinand Meldahl, one of the most important Danish architects in the 19th century from 1875 to 1880.

The GrimmsMärchenReich, the first Brothers Grimm interactive museum in Germany, has been located in the right wing since April 2019. The paper theater museum, which has been an integral part of the “museum within a museum” for 30 years, is currently being renovated.
Original stucco ceilings, magnificent wood inlays, the Hanau council goblet and portraits of the Hanau counts and the landgraves of Hessen-Kassel allow visitors to the Philippsruhe Palace to experience bygone worlds. Paintings by Hanau painters such as Anton Wilhelm Tischbein, Friedrich Bury or Moritz Daniel Oppenheim as well as sculptures by August Gaul convey how international the Hanau Drawing Academy has been since 1772. Changing special exhibitions are presented in the attic. The only paper theater museum in Germany is integrated into the castle - with regular performances.

The GrimmsMärchenReich in the right wing of the castle reveals a fairytale world with clever princesses, courageous princes, tricky witches and dangerous giants on over 340 square meters. Children from 4 years and adults go on an interactive and multimedia adventure journey through seven fairy tale worlds. They walk through the whispering corridor, explore fairytale landscapes in costume, the room of metamorphosis, enter the reading area with books, audio stations and sign films and learn exciting stories from the childhood and life of the brothers Jacob, Wilhelm and Ludwig Emil Grimm. You discover Hanau at the end of the 18th century with the Grimm’s children's eyes and come to the Grimm family's parlor. Some unique pieces, such as Jacob Grimm's briefcase and frock coat as well as a draft of the national monument of the Brothers Grimm from the collection of the Hanauer Geschichtsverein 1844 e.V. can also be admired.

The Hanau Historical Museum (sponsor: City of Hanau and Hanau History Association) with a paper theater museum is located in the splendid rooms of the main building. The magnificent wedding hall gives newlyweds a stylish ambience for their wedding. There is a sculpture park in the palace garden. In the summer months, the Brothers Grimm Fairy Tale Festival takes place in the amphitheater in the rear palace park. The museum café in the vestibule, the castle gastronomy in the White Hall and, in summer, the large outdoor terrace on the Main invite you to linger.