When the fairy tale kingdom of the Brothers Grimm opened in Philippsruhe Castle in Hanau in April 2019, a success story seemed to begin. For a long time, an interactive offer to honor the Hanau-born Brothers Grimm had been fought for. Ambitious plans for an adventure museum in Hanau's old town had to be buried before the north wing of Philippsruhe Castle, which was used as a museum depot, was redeveloped and transformed into a modern hands-on museum for children and their families with interactive play and information stations. At the same time, the Brothers Grimm department of the Historical Museum in Philippsruhe Palace was renewed. The concept was well received by the people, but then the corona epidemic thwarted the museum's bill.

It is now similar with the new permanent exhibition “Modern Times / Hanau 1848–1949”.

The ground floor of the museum palace, which is dedicated to the history of the city, has been carefully turned inside out.

But now winter is coming and with it the corona pandemic with a force that nobody could have imagined.

Unworthy of a city like Hanau

It is good and right that the opening should not be celebrated in grand style. But the people of Hanau can at least be happy that the department dedicated to the eventful history of Hanau is no longer leading a shadowy existence. For many years, the information and exhibits about the decisive years for Hanau in the 19th and 20th centuries were presented carelessly and boringly. That was unworthy of a city of the size and importance of Hanau. New museum concepts were developed and disappeared into drawers after controversies that mainly took place behind the scenes. It was high time that, thanks to public funding, a breath of fresh air and modern approaches finally moved into the ground floor of the museum.

There will certainly be better times again, and then there will be more new openings and more frequent opening times next year.

On the plan are, among other things, a department for the establishment of the new town in Hanau, another crucial chapter in Hanau's history, as well as the redesign of the extraordinary paper theater museum.

Hopefully there will then be ceremonial openings with many culturally interested citizens.