Distance from base: 250 km

Germany boast almost 150 themed roads that are just perfect for road trip around the country.

Today we will skim two of the more popular ones. The 'German Timber-Frame Road' was founded in 1990 and the Fairy Tale Route (German: Deutsche Märchenstraße) is a tourist attraction in Germany originally established in 1975.

With a length of 600 kilometres (370 mi), the fairytale route runs from Hanau in central Germany to Bremen in the north. Tourist attractions along the route are focused around the brothers Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm, including locations where they lived and worked at various stages in their life, as well as regions which are linked to the fairy tales found in the Grimm collection, such as The Town Musicians of Bremen. Just follow the road signs depicting the heart-shaped head and body of a pretty, princess-like creature.

Wetzlar straddles the river Lahn and is on the German Timber-Frame Road, which passes mile upon mile of half-timbered houses. The city is famous for its leading role in the international optical industry and as the birthplace of 35 mm photography. It is also famous for Goethe, the popular German writer who has lived and worked in Wetzlar a certain time in the 18th century.

A walk from the city center to the shopping mall near the train station only takes 15 minutes.

Wetzlar has a very beautiful old city center with half-timbered houses, small hidden parks and exclusive boutiques and restaurants. One great sight of Wetzlar that everyone who visits the city must see is the cathedral in the city center. The building of the cathedral is still unfinished, which is something unique since the building of the cathedral started approximately in the 9th century, so the cathedral has many different architectural styles.

Wetzlar also has its very own burger, which you cannot get anywhere else in Germany. It’s called “Oberkrainer” and can only be bought at the gas station at “Bergstrasse” where it was invented.

Marburg has a vast history. The castle holds date back to the 9^th and 10^th century and the city was first documentary mentioned in 1138.

When you visit Marburg you should check out Elisabeth church, the old university, the castle and the old town which is called upper town. You will also receive a flyer which will lead you through the fairytale boulevard in Marburg on which you will find art pieces of many fairytales of the Brothers Grimm.