Schloss Steinau

About the museum

Steinau Castle was probably built in the late 13th century as a fortress on the old trade route between Frankfurt and Leipzig. In the early 16th century the counts of Hanau-Münzenberg converted the complex into a bastioned, five-sided Renaissance fortress that was also a castle; it served mainly as a widow's residence and secondary seat. After the County of Hanau fell to Hesse-Kassel in 1736, the house lost importance and was therefore largely spared from later alterations.

After the end of landgravial rule, various state institutions used the castle; since 1957 it has been looked after by the Staatliche Schlösser und Gärten Hessen. Today the museum displays Renaissance wall paintings, the Hofstube with portraits of the nobility, and a castle kitchen with 19th-century equipment.

Because the Brothers Grimm spent their childhood in Steinau, an exhibition is devoted to them. The exhibition “Wurzeln und Flügel”, opened in June 2025, places the family at the center as the network behind the brothers' work and for the first time also honors the women of the family. A second exhibition explains the building history of the castle using plans, window reveals and a model.

Highlights

• Exhibition “Wurzeln und Flügel – Die Brüder Grimm und Steinau”
• Painting “Der Lotte ihre Stube” by Ludwig Emil Grimm (1821)
• Hofstube with 16th-century portraits of nobility
• Castle kitchen with 19th-century cooking equipment
• Renaissance wall paintings in the castle rooms
• Climb to the castle tower

Permanent exhibitions

• Wurzeln und Flügel – Die Brüder Grimm und Steinau – Opened in June 2025, the exhibition presents the Grimm family as the foundation of the brothers' work and for the first time focuses on the women of the family.
• Baukunst im Wandel – Die Geschichte des Schlosses Steinau – Plans, window reveals and a castle model illustrate the change from the medieval castle to the bastioned Renaissance palace.
• Schauräume: Hofstube und Schlossküche – The furnished Hofstube with noble portraits and the kitchen with 19th-century equipment show everyday life at the castle.

Operated by

Staatliche Schlösser und Gärten Hessen

Admission & discounts

The individual prices apply to the exhibitions without a guided tour.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: not available
• Accessible parking: not available
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The kitchen and Hofstube are reachable by wheelchair with a mobile ramp and staff assistance. The museum, museum shop and exhibitions are only accessible via several flights of stairs, as is the tower (176 steps). The visitor toilets are not accessible (a 10 cm step). There are no designated accessible parking spaces; for getting in and out, vehicles may drive into the castle courtyard. No audio system for hearing-impaired visitors; the Kulturschätze app offers tours to listen to and read along with. The outer Zwinger and the Hirschgraben are largely suitable for wheelchairs.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Playground / play area

In the Grimm exhibition, the character “Kater Gravus” leads children into the world of fairy tales; the Kulturschätze app contains tours for children. In the Hirschgraben in front of the castle there is a children's playground. Children up to 6 years are admitted free; the family ticket covers two adults with up to three children.

Getting there & parking

The paths to the castle partly run over historic cobblestones.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Museum shop in the castle.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Up to 100 guests.

Four event spaces for 35 to 100 people: the large Hofstube with the Neue Hofstube (approx. 100 people), the Neue Hofstube alone (approx. 60), the castle kitchen (approx. 35) and the castle courtyard. The rooms are not barrier-free.

Plan your visit