And because Germany really is a fairytale land here’s where to go to be truly Happy in Snow White Village.
Because whisper it, no in fact shout it, Snow White does exist.
And not just on the big screen you’ve been dazzled by this summer’s Disney hit.
But in Bad Wildungen in Hesse, 70 miles from Frankfurt.
The original fairytale hero
Where the legend of Margaretha Von Waldeck originates.
Marge, which she was never called, heaven forfend, was a kindly and beautiful young noblewoman.
Who it is said was poisoned and died in what is modern-day Brussels.
And yes, there was an inspiration for The Seven Dwarves too.
In the many children who worked in the copper mines run by Marge’s dad.
Hi-hi, hi-ho in Bergfreiheit
All of which you can enjoy at the Schneewittchenhaus Bergfreiheit.
Where mine host will take you into the life of the dwarfs in the small, typical one-room houses.
In the larger of the two living spaces visitors can see where the seven dwarfs slept in just one room.
After a long day ho-ho-hoeing, and off to the work they went to the mine.
The dwarfs’ table is all there already set, obvs by the little birdies.
Dwarf prices
While there are seven cute little beds, three of which are loft beds, against the wall.
In the other living space you can see how the dwarfs and Snow White prepared food.
There is a kitchen with an old stove and a table as well as all kinds of accessories and utensils.
And it is all pitched at dwarfish prices. Adults: €3, children up to 13 €1.50.
And groups of ten people or more €2.50 per person.
Suiting all kinds whether you’re Happy in Snow White Village or Bashful and they’ll cheer up any Grumpy kid.
Grimm up north
The Snow White Village, is, of course, on movie buffs’ map just now.
Just as Germany was from the start for Walt Disney from when he first saw Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria.
But she is just one of the many storied German characters curated by the Brothers Grimm.
And commemorated these past 50 years on the German Fairytale Route which we’ve flagged up here already.
And runs 370 miles from the brothers’ birthplace Hanau in central Germany to Bremen in the north.
Through their childhood town of Steinau an der Strasse with The Brothers Grimm House, now a museum.
As is GRIMM WORLD in Kassel where the bros wrote their tales and a which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.
All our heroes and heroines
You’ll pass some familiar heroes and locations along the way.
Including Rapunzel’s tower, the castle where Sleeping Beauty lay for 100 years and Hamelin and its Pied Piper.
En route to Bremen with its showpiece Town Musicians.
And the free weekly reenactment and humanising of the Bremen statue animals.