In the footsteps of everlasting fairytales
What adult in the western world doesn't know the tale of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves by heart? The fairytale seems to have an eternal quality and, if it's true that to become a happy adult one has to have enjoyed a happy childhood, then this tale has contributed to the happiness of the adults of entire nations. It was "invented" (in the sense that it was revealed) some 200 years ago by the Grimm Brothers who were fervent adepts of traditional Germanic oral culture. We owe them many other fairytales, such as Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Little Red Riding Hood, Tom Thumb, Rapunzel and the Brave Little Tailor, to name but a few, and legends that inspired Richard Wagner to compose some of his operas. The brothers were born in Hanau into a family of nine children, only seven of which reached adulthood. Their father died when they were only just ten years old. These tragic events are sadly very similar to the beginnings of many of the tales they related and explain perhaps the inseparable brothers' taste for marvellously happy endings.
Hanau, which is home to the Best Western Premier Villa Stokkum, has not forgotten the Grimm Brothers and, despite the ravage wreaked by the Second World War, its walls continue to bear the traces of the eras and cultures that gave birth to these tales. Steinheim Tower could well have been where Sleeping Beauty lay spellbound for so many years and one would not be surprised to see the Brave Little Tailor emerging from the town hall or even to stumble upon the pole with the Vogt's hat to which William Tell refused to bow in submission. On the market square, in front of the goldsmiths' house, a fountain dating back to 1606 bears a strange resemblance to the one where Snow White went to fetch water. Hanau is also a genuine town of goldsmiths whose craftsmen have created jewels and treasures more than worthy of the most memorable fairytales.
If the walls of the Best Western Premier Villa Stokkum could talk, they would also be rich in stories and tales. The hotel is a listed monument that was built on the foundations and part of the walls of the town's oldest houses. The oldest section, a wine cellar dating back to 1665, is today a banquet hall of authentic character. Baron Von Stockum who resided here is responsible for the name, give or take a "k". In 1870, the new owner converted the premises into a cigar factory. The old brick tower and bell, one of the property's emblems, date from this period. It was originally built to house a water tank that would put out any possible fires. The present-day hotel is pleasantly homogenous in style thanks to masterful design and impeccable service. The guestrooms command splendid vistas in particular over the fairytale town. Spacious and particularly well fitted out, they are a pleasing combination of proportion and comfort. Extremely high quality materials have been used throughout the establishment, illustrated by the marble bathrooms and basalt floor in the lobby, in keeping with the wealth of its legacy.
A huge glass roof that slides open in fine weather crowns the restaurant. Local produce, in particular cider and "Handcheese" take pride of place in its two regional buffets, the Steinheimer Ratsherrenabend and the Großes Hessisches. In its own way, the restaurant of the Best Western Premier Villa Stokkum Hotel also pays homage to the traditions of this rich region.
| Best Western Premier Hotel Villa Stokkum |
| Steinheimer Vorstadt 70, Hanau, DE, Hanau, Germany - 63456 |
| Phone: +49 (0) 6181 66 40 Fax: +49 (0) 6181 661 580 |
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