Steinhorst to Hameln

The obligatory re-reading of The Pied Piper of Hamelin by Robert Browning preceded our visit to this famous city.  Although the legend made Hamelin world famous, the city's wealth was due to its position as a trading centre on the river Weser.  Clever use of weirs and locks on the river Weser has provided power over the centuries, up to the present day.  Several buildings have reference to the Pied Piper legend.  The Hochzeitshaus (wedding hall) has a glockenspiel clock with the main figures of the legend re-enacting the story 3 times a day. In front of the Hochzeitshaus, in summer, there is an open air performance of the Peid Piper story on Sundays at noon, with an introduction in several languages, including Chinese and Russian. The play involves about 80 local people, and attracts around 3500 visitors a year. In the church there is a stained glass Pied Piper window, and another building is called the Ratfanger House (Ratcatcher House). There are many highly decorated buildings in the town in the "Weser Rennaisance" Style, making it a most attractive place to visit.