Weserbergland hills - the Renaissance spirit

The Weserbergland hills in the heart of northern Germany are home to a number of castles, palaces and historical towns that reflect the important role that the Renaissance period played in this area. Due to this influence, the Weserbergland hills are renowned for having their own distinctive charisma and romantic appeal. The region's multitude of timber-framed houses and its association with the Brothers Grimm complete the cultural mix.

A World of Renaissance
The Weserbergland hills are home to the largest collection of Renaissance buildings north of the Alps. A European pilot project has been set up here to enable people to discover this period in all its diversity at a number of different locations. Six historical sites in the region, centred around the Wedding House in Hamlyn, present a comprehensive and varied picture of the Renaissance era. Other locations include St. Martin's Church in Stadthagen, the town centres of Rinteln and Höxter, Bückeburg Palace and Bevern Castle.

A town of fascinating architecture on three rivers - Hannoversch Münden
Hannoversch Münden can look back on a long and interesting history of shipping, trade and handcraftsmanship. The period of the Stapelrecht (stockpiling privilege) was of considerable importance, marking the start of 600 years of economic success and prosperity. Take a stroll around the town and discover the history of both of its Weser Renaissance buildings, the town hall with its magnificent paintings and the Guelph palace with its remarkable secular Renaissance apartments.

The most famous figure from Hannoversch Münden is the travelling doctor, Johann Andreas Eisenbart. Among his contemporaries he was regarded as an ingenious operator who cleverly attracted his patients with the help an entourage of travelling comedians. In the summer months, the Doctor Eisenbart Plays in front of the historical town hall tell of his life and work.

On a bed of roses - Sababurg, Sleeping Beauty's castle
Sleeping Beauty's castle, Sababurg, sits on top of a small, romantic hill near Hannoversch Münden. It dates from the Renaissance period and enjoyed its heyday as a hunting lodge. The founding of the German Fairytale Route was announced here in 1974. The legend of Sleeping Beauty's castle has its roots in the large thorny hedge around the adjacent zoo. It's well worth taking a guided tour of the rose garden and Sababurg Primeval Forest (Urwald Sababurg), a nature conservation area where you can immerse yourself in the fairytale world of the Brothers Grimm, enjoy various tours and admire the Sleeping Beauty sculptures of Alfons Holtgreve.

Fürstenberg Castle and 'white gold'
Fürstenberg Castle, a former hunting lodge thought to date from the 13th century, sits high above the River Weser near the town of Höxter. Its main attraction is the Fürstenberg porcelain factory, founded in 1747 by Johann Georg von Langen on the instruction of Duke Carl I von Braunschweig. The porcelain factory was housed in the hunting lodge until 1972 when it was relocated to a more modern site. Today, you can visit the factory museum and admire a variety of porcelain objects from a number of different periods.

Culinary traditions dating back to the Renaissance
The home of the strong local beer known as Bockbier is the town Einbeck. The beer was first produced in 1612 by the local brewery and also dates back to the Renaissance period. At the time, beer was one of the staples of people's diets as, unlike clean drinking water, it was in plentiful supply. The "Zuprostgebot" were drinking bouts where the behaviour ranged from wild to completely dangerous. Beer was drunk heavily by people of all ages and social classes. The Germans weren't called the "people of the good drink" by their European neighbours without good reason.