Pied Piper of Hamelin.
Introduction
A major stop on the Fairy-Tale Road, Hamelin (Hameln in German) is forever associated with the medieval story of Pied Piper of Hamelin. Popularised by the the Brothers Grimm, Goethe and Robert Browning in the 19th century, the legend tells how in the 13th century a piper hired for his rat-catching skills lured all the town's rodent into the Weser River with his magic pipe. When the town folk refused to pay for his services, Pied Piper led all the local children to drown in the river too.
Attractions
The town bathes in the atmosphere of the fairy tale, and in the summer, every Sunday, the tale is performed by actors in the centre. The comic musical Rats is also performed in Wednesday afternoons.
Many of Hamelin's façades are richly ornated in a distinctive Renaissance style, dating mostly from the late 16th century to early 17th century. Among notable buildings let's note the Leist-Haus (1585�1589), the Rattenfaengerhaus (1603), the Dempter-Haus (1607), the Hochzeitshaus (1610�1617) as well as the older, timber-framed Bürgerhus (1560).
Hochzeitshaus, Hamelin.
Travel Community
Ask your travel questions on the Germany Travel Forum
