The Barbarossa town of Gelnhausen, once the seat of the Hohenstaufen emperor Frederick I—known as “Barbarossa” (Red Beard)—is the district town of the Main-Kinzig district in the southeast of Hesse. It is located halfway between Frankfurt am Main and Fulda, close to the lush forests of the Spessart and Vogelsberg regions.

The municipality, with nearly 23,000 inhabitants, offers excellent infrastructure including commercial areas, retail and dining options, leisure activities, an airfield, sports facilities, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, as well as clinics and a medical center. Gelnhausen is a modern town that has preserved the charm of its winding old town and its eventful history, keeping it alive in a unique way.

Gelnhausen for lovers of fairy tales

Gelnhausen offers not only outstanding sights, but also a beautifully preserved old town where lovingly restored half-timbered houses stand alongside medieval architecture. Impressive landmarks such as the Imperial Palace (Kaiserpfalz), once a water castle, the Witch’s Tower (Hexenturm), where instruments of torture from the witch-hunt era can still be seen, the Evangelical Marienkirche, the Catholic Church of St. Peter, the former synagogue, the Inner Wooden Gate, and the Romanesque House all carry the spirit of centuries.

They leave room for legends, fairy tales, and myths, but also for historical reality, which can be explored and experienced in many different ways.

Gelnhausen for visitors and day-trippers

Those who want to dive deeper into the history of the Barbarossa town can embark on a very special journey through time. Gelnhausen is the birthplace of immersive guided tours. Thousands of visitors of all ages immerse themselves in past eras through (almost) anytime-bookable public experience tours.

In small groups or larger travel parties, visitors learn firsthand how people lived in earlier times, what shaped their daily lives, and what challenges they faced. Authentic storytelling, enriched with humor and anecdotes from past centuries, brings history to life against a fairytale-like backdrop.

Visitors can also explore the city on classic guided tours or themed tours focusing on cultural, literary, or architectural aspects. A virtual city tour allows independent exploration.

For those seeking interactive experiences, escape-style games such as “Operation Mindfall” or “Gelnhusana Magica” invite participants to solve challenging puzzles and save the city from disaster.

In the hands-on museum, families and visitors of all ages step back into the era of Emperor Frederick Barbarossa and follow in the footsteps of the city’s most famous figures, including telephone inventor Philipp Reis and Baroque writer Hans Jakob Christoph von Grimmelshausen.

A unique highlight is Germany’s only walk-in ear, offering insight into the work of Philipp Reis.

Accommodation is available in the historic old town as well as in the city center and surrounding districts. Nearby forests, river meadows, and recreational areas offer great opportunities for hiking and cycling, while swimming pools, an adventure mini-golf course, and even scenic flights or skydiving from the local airfield provide additional attractions.

Gelnhausen is therefore a place where history, adventure, and modern life come together.