The Märchenwald fairytale park was created in 1931. Thanks to its creation, fairytale characters have stepped out of the pages of a book and settled in the small town of Altenberg to welcome children and adults alike. An hour's drive from Düsseldorf brings you to a magical forest populated by characters from children's favourite fairy tales. Mostly the characters from the Brothers Grimm fairy tales live here, but there are also other familiar figures.
You don't need 12 pairs of iron shoes to walk through the forest — although the path winds between the hills, it's easy to follow. There's a witch's cottage just around the bend, then a couple of gnomes having a feast, then the restless Max and Moritz poking their noses out of the chimney. There are plenty of fairytale houses along the way, and you can peek inside to see how Hansel and Gretel or Snow White are getting on. The houses are full of details of everyday life, so it's also a tour of Germany's cultural and architectural traditions.
Odysseum Museum is located 24 km away. Plan a visit to this museum with children.
Children will recognise the characters without any clues: Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf, the ubiquitous Puss in Boots, the modest Cinderella, the beautiful Rapunzel, the resourceful Bremen musicians... At the touch of a button, the static figures come to life and recount the main episodes of the fairy tales. The Fairytale Forest is also inhabited by real animals, goats and rabbits, which you can stroke and feed.
The park is not as colourful and busy as Disneyland, but very peaceful and unassuming. However, the atmosphere of the fairytale forest itself, complete with picturesque mountain views, is quite magical.
On Christmas Eve, St Nicholas visits the park for a trick-or-treating show. Waffles with berries and whipped cream and hot chocolate are served daily at the park's restaurant. Next to the restaurant is another attraction, the dancing fountains. It's not just a platform, it's a real stage. The fountains are turned on every hour between 12:00 and 18:00. After such a walk you can also visit the old cathedral of Altenberg — Altenberger Dom.