On the trail of fairy and myths teller, the Brothers Grimm in Northern Hesse
| The landscape of Northern Hesse is unique in Germany and fascinating. This is largely unknown outside of our region. The origin of this particularly impressive and diverse landscape can be found in its geological formation: volcanoes erupted through the existing sedimentary rock layers, forming the characteristic conical hills. |
Climbing the mostly forested hills, one is often greeted by astonishing, rugged, bizarrely shaped basalt cliffs. From their summits, the view sweeps across the expanse of the landscape – a picture of the pleasant, harmonious alternation of forested mountains and meadows opens up. This landscape must have exerted a strong appeal even on people in prehistoric times. Numerous remains of places of worship found on mountain peaks bear witness to this. They recall sacred significance that was directly related to the fertility beliefs prevalent at the time. In the Neolithic period, the landscape with its mountains and gorges, cliffs, caves, and springs served as a projection surface for the worship of the divine, for the worship of the earth itself. These places were the birthplaces of myths, fairy tales, and stories that have survived to this day. This landscape must have held a strong appeal for people even in prehistoric times. Numerous remains of places of worship found on mountain peaks bear witness to this. They recall sacred significance that was directly related to the fertility beliefs prevalent at the time. In the Neolithic period, the landscape, with its mountains and gorges, cliffs, caves, and springs, served as a projection surface for the worship of the divine, for the veneration of the earth itself. These places were the birthplaces of myths, fairy tales, and stories that have survived to this day. |
The fairy tale collectors Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm must have also sensed the wealth of myths in Northern Hesse, and it was certainly no coincidence that they spent a large part of their lives in Kassel. The Grimms' connections to Northern Hesse are also internationally known, thus creating a favorable precondition for marketing the region to tourism: Those familiar with the fairy tales would also like to learn about the region's original landscape and its connection to the myths. |
With the planned project, we want to explore precisely these connections in more detail. The holidays are intended to make the relationship between fairy tales, myths, and landscape particularly tangible. Excursions into the charming countryside and to cultural and historical sites are planned, as well as museum visits, academic lectures, and storytelling evenings. Excursions into the charming countryside, to cultural and historical sites, as well as museum visits, scientific lectures and fairy tale telling evenings are planned. |
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