The well-known "health town" of Bad Wildungen lies in Hesse’s green north, in the middle of Waldeck country on the German Fairy Tale Route – a spa paradise oasis in a genuine fairytale landscape. Shaped by a sanatorium and spa tradition that is over 600 years old, today Bad Wildungen presents itself as a vital town with diversified cultural, free time and recreational offerings for friends of fairy tales, day visitors, and holiday tourists.

Bad Wildungen for friends of fairy tales

The Baroque castle Friedrichstein is enthroned on a hilltop opposite the half-timbered old town of Bad Wildungen. In the sixteenth century, Count Philip IV’s beautiful daughter Margaretha von Waldeck came from here. Her brother founded the mining village Bergfreiheit located in the middle of the Kellerwald forest, and she herself died young, presumably poisoned.

The Brothers Grimm made her destiny serve as model for their fairy tale “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" which is known by families and children all over the world. In the “Snow White Village" Bergfreiheit, you can still today follow the tracks of the young princess and the dwarfs. The interesting exhibition mine Bertsch (a former copper mine), the small mining authority museum and the cosy Snow White House, opened throughout the year in the middle of the town centre of Bergfreiheit, give insights into the times and ways of Late Middle Age mining practices and point to the source of the fairy tale about Snow White.

Several times a year, lovingly staged fairy tales are performed for families and children on the natural stage idyllically situated above the village. For the traditional Easter bonfire, the egg run or the apple pressing festival, one can actually encounter Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in person!

Bad Wildungen for holiday tourists 

Bad Wildungen is worthy of visiting not only for friends of fairy tales, but also for health-conscious spa guests, sport activists, families and children as well as holiday tourists. Adjacent to the unspoiled Kellerwald-Edersee National Park, Bad Wildungen is an ideal starting point for extended hikes as well as attractive walking and cycling tours to the 27 km long Edersee lake. Apart from healthy activities in unspoiled nature, the leisure facility Heloponte as well as the bathing spa oasis “Quellen-Therme” invite you to relax and enjoy.

In the health town Bad Wildungen with its picturesque half-timbered old town and the elegant spa district, one can discover its charms on various guided group tours such as the “Night Watchman”.

Eighteen mineral springs, two promenade halls as well as blossoming parks in Bad Wildungen and Reinhardshausen – Europe’s largest spa garden among them – welcome you to a wide range of enjoyable spa and holiday experiences at all times. Numerous major events and prominent festivals (Easter decorations, jazz, folk, samba and flower corso) attract visitors, families and children, spa guests and holiday tourists throughout the year.