Märchenreise
Season 1
Presenter Clarissa Corrêa da Silva embarks on an exciting search for clues to Germany's most famous fairy tales. She visits fascinating places, discovers surprising backgrounds and has to overcome many challenges.
Where to Watch Märchenreise • Season 1
7 Episodes
- Die Salzprinzessin
E1Die Salzprinzessin"Salt is more valuable than gold and precious stones," claims Princess Amelie in the ARD fairy tale "The Salt Princess." But is that really true or is she just telling fairy tales? Was there really a time when salt was so important? What's the story behind these little white grains? Presenter Clarissa Corrêa da Silva embarks on a fairy tale journey through Germany: in the footsteps of the Salt Princess. At Bückeburg Castle in Lower Saxony, she learns in the castle kitchen why chefs think salt is great and why people would have starved without the so-called "curing." On her further journey of discovery, Clarissa is amazed that Lüneburg is the salt city of the north. She meets people there who explain to her why salt used to be called "white gold" and why the city became so rich because of it. Salt was transported from Lüneburg all over the world - but how? The answer leads Clarissa to a "salt barge", an old wooden boat, which she uses to travel across the river. But she works up quite a sweat, because there were no engines back then and the boat crew doesn't spare Clarissa when they drive against the current. Finally, Clarissa still has to answer the question: How do you actually get salt? She has a lot to do when she visits a salt maker - because she obviously doesn't want to leave Lüneburg without salt and has to learn how to extract salt from salt water. Clarissa asks herself: is there another way? And yes, the white grain can also be found in mines, for example in Thuringia. Here Clarissa explores an incredibly long tunnel 800 meters deep and dives into a sparkling crystal grotto. Together with Clarissa, the ARD fairytale journey invites you to discover exciting places in the footsteps of the Salt Princess, to join in with one or two challenges and to learn surprising background information about the everyday salt on our breakfast eggs. - Drei Haselnüsse für Aschenbrödel
E2Drei Haselnüsse für AschenbrödelThis film is a cult classic and has been for 50 years. The story of Cinderella makes many people dream, especially at Christmas time. Riding or shooting a crossbow like Cinderella, snowy landscapes and a prince on top of that - simply magical. The story of Cinderella has been told many times. But why does Cinderella from the film adaptation of the 70s have such a strong appeal? What makes this film character so special to this day? Presenter Clarissa Corra da Silva takes a fairytale journey in the footsteps of Cinderella. On an old estate, Clarissa delves into the life of a maid. Was it really as sweaty and exhausting as described in the fairytale? Clarissa's tour also includes the moated castle in vihov, Bohemia. In the Czech-German fairytale film "Three Hazelnuts for Cinderella", Cinderella lived here. The castle's inner courtyard became the courtyard where Cinderella lives with her stepmother and stepsister when scenes from the film were shot in the winter of 1972/73. But does Cinderella really come from the Czech Republic? Clarissa finds out that 200 years ago, in what was then the Bohemian kingdom, a woman lived here who collected folk tales. The writer Boena Nemcov heard the Popelce fairy tale and wrote it down the way she wanted. Popelce actually means "Cinder Girl" in German. In the film, this became Cinderella. In Germany, Cinderella became famous through the Brothers Grimm. In fact, there are around 400 versions of the fairy tale. But only Cinderella can shoot a crossbow so brilliantly - can Clarissa learn to do that too? And she tests whether hazelnuts really have magical powers on a hazelnut farm, where she actively helps with the harvest. Clarissa's journey shows her that Cinderella is still a modern fairy tale character today. She doesn't shy away from work, but she doesn't put up with everything either. Cinderella doesn't make it easy for the prince: she wants him to not only fall in love with her beauty, but to recognize her many facets. In a shoe museum, Clarissa finds out whether there really are shoes that only fit one person. Behind the scenes of the musical "Three Hazelnuts for Cinderella", Clarissa talks to lead actress Tammy Girke about how she turns into Cinderella - and how to ride like her. Clarissa Corra da Silva goes on a fairy tale journey through Germany and the Czech Republic and discovers why this Cinderella still has a magical effect today. - Rumpelstilzchen
E3RumpelstilzchenIt is one of the most terrifying fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm: Rumpelstiltskin. This spooky creature lives hidden in the forest, wants to kidnap a child and can conjure gold out of straw. What spark of truth is there in this story? Presenter Clarissa Corrêa da Silva sets off on a fairy tale journey through Germany and finds out whether gold really is mankind's most precious treasure, how one can live in the forest and whether one can actually make gold out of straw. - Schneewittchen
E4Schneewittchen"Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?" Everyone knows the question from the fairy tale "Snow White" that the evil stepmother asks her reflection. The new queen is a vain woman. Because Snow White is prettier than her, she even wants to have the girl killed. Why do people attach so much importance to their appearance? And what is "true beauty" anyway? To find out, presenter Clarissa Corrêa da Silva sets off on a fairytale journey through Germany. In Hamburg she meets activist Melodie Michelberger, who advocates body positivity. Clarissa learns from her that many people who do not conform to the typical ideal of beauty are discriminated against. For Melodie Michelberger, true beauty has nothing to do with appearance: "For me, a beautiful person is someone who makes me feel good, who goes through life in a kind and interested way," explains the feminist: "So not something you can see, but something you can feel." In the Snow White town of Lohr am Main, everything revolves around the topic of beauty: Here, Clarissa visits the Horror White together with Snow White actress Julia La Ferla - a sculpture that initially sparked great debate because the citizens found it ugly. "It really does look more like Struwwelpeter and not like Snow White," says Clarissa. The excitement about the sculpture has now died down - the Horror White has even become the town's mascot and adorns many souvenirs. The Snow White hiking trail that leads through the Spessart also begins in Lohr am Main. Clarissa meets ranger Felix Kühne, who explains to her why the beauty of the German forest is at risk. In Neu-Ulm, Bavaria, Clarissa visits the largest hairdressing museum in the world. Why was "hair as black as ebony" once an ideal of beauty? "In Germany, women used to have blonde hair, like 'street mutt blonde'. Black hair like Snow White's was the exception and that's why it was so popular," says master hairdresser Aylin Mayer. The ARD fairy tale journey ends in Jork in the Altes Land on an organic farm. Here Clarissa helps with the apple harvest and asks herself: does an apple have to look beautiful or just taste good? The fairy tale journey invites you to discover exciting places in Snow White's footsteps together with presenter Clarissa Corrêa da Silva, to join in with one or two challenges and to learn surprising background information about the topic of beauty. - Die Bremer Stadtmusikanten
E5Die Bremer StadtmusikantenHardly a Grimm fairy tale is as well known as "The Town Musicians". To the statue of the animals at Bremen's marketplace, tourists from all over the world pilgrimage daily. But, what is so magical about its history to date? Actually, the four are only a lame donkey, a silent dog, a cat without a hunting drive and a weak cock looking for a better life. Moderator Clarissa Corrêa da Silva travels in the footsteps of animal celebrities from northern Germany to Upper Bavaria. And experienced: What brings a stubborn donkey to give in? And what does it take today to make a crackleant a city music company? - Der Froschkönig
E6Der FroschkönigAppearances can be deceiving. Everyone knows the moral of the story about the frog and the princess. But there's much more to this classic fairy tale. Presenter Clarissa Corrêa da Silva wants to find out what. She doesn't throw anyone against the wall, but embarks on an exciting "fairy tale journey" across Germany. Why do we fall in love with green, slimy hoppers? Can everyone truly forge their own happiness? And: Is it worth jumping into the water to save a golden ball? The presenter bravely gets to the bottom of several fairy tale secrets.
