Hamelin

Stores in Hamelin in the typical Fachwerk style found in northern Germany. Hamelin was founded in 851 A.D.  as a monastery. The town is best known for the Pied Piper tale, which may have actually happened but in different context. During the Second World War the Hamelin prison was used as a detention center. Around 200 died there.

   

A moving statue of the Pied Piper leading the rats from Hamelin on a clock in the city. Legend has it that the city was overrun by rats. A man came into town and offered to help, for a large sum of money. The mayor agreed and the man went into the street. He began to play his flute and the rats followed him to the river, where they continued to march and drowned. He then returned to town and demanded his pay. The mayor had tricked him and refused to pay. The man returned to his street and played his flute again, a different tune this time. This time, the children ran from where they were and followed him to the same river. They too continued to march as he played, and marched into the river, drowning as well.

A typical street in Hamlin with “Fachwerk” buildings