The Doll House....

The Doll Museum in Hanau Wilhelmsbad -

Finding a vision for tomorrow by glancing back into the past.....

Donna.......

The famous "Hessisches Puppenmuseum" - (The Doll Museum of the state of Hessen) is like a 10 minutes drive away from the city center of Hanau and each time I drive by, I always promise myself I´ll pay them a visit. Well, well last weekend I finally kept my promise. The Doll house, like I love to call it :-), is situated in an exhibition space in the unusual atmosphere of the baroque "Wilhelmsbad" Spa building.
Wilhelmsbad represents one of the earliest landscape parks in Germany. Its spa was frequented by society in the eighteenth century for about a decade. The original eighteenth century layout has largely remained unchanged. The promenade is flanked by the late-baroque spa buildings.

Wilhelmsbad baroque Spa building complex

more of the Spa complex

the former Spa quarters

The name "Wilhelmsbad" dates back to a mineral spring in the 18th century. The park and the former Spa complex also dates back to the 18th century. Since the end of the 19th Century, the Spa Complex has been closed down, due to the mineral spring drying out. Today one can find the very spacious park, created in the English style, with different highlights such as a pyramid island, a lake, a hermitage and a Gothic castle ruin.

I love the atmosphere around the Wilhelmsbad quarters, especially the park. It is great to go for a walk and also to relax in its natural surroundings.

relaxing in the very spacious park

The Gothic Castle

the Gothic Castle

the lake with its pyramid island


gateway into the Gothic Castle

part of the Gothic Castle ruin

Wilhelmsbad’s main attraction is undoubtedly the historic horsedrawn carousel. Fortunately it has found support for its renovation. Presently it is wrapped up and waiting for its restoration.

a model of the famous horsedrawn carousel

carousel horses on exhibition

In the Spa building complex is situated the "Doll House". The museum exhibition has on permanent display, more than a thousand dolls of particular interest and historical importance. What I love most about this exhibition is their ideology of using - "Dolls as a learning aid and mirror of society" and also"Creating an identity and building Cultural Bridges" through dolls.

the doll museum is situated inside this building

"The Doll Museum also sees itself as a mediator in the dialogue between cultures. European dolls from antiquity up to the present day are contrasted with dolls from other countries. This is intended to emphasize the common elements of play as well as the differences. The Hessian Doll Museum cooperates with important partners such as the Japanese Warabekan Toy Museum. Through its intercultural character the Museum contributes to the comprehension of historical cultural epochs, international understanding and tolerance. The Doll Museum is proof that a museum can unite a regional identity with international character to a high standard which will be reflected in multilingual information after the reconstruction." (source:Hessisches Puppenmuseum)

The exhibition displays dolls from antique times (before christ) until present day.

an antique doll

religious dolls

japanese doll

gypsy dolls

One of my favorites is the largest minature department store in the world........

part of the largest minature department shop

ladies in the mini department store doing what ladies luv most, shopping :-)

entrance into mini-department shop :-)

Additional objects are also shown in the museum in special exhibitions. The present show in the special exhibition is from July to November 2011 and is called "Living Dolls". I was very fascinated and captivated by a doll presented by the artist Sabine Vogel. I love the way she uses her creation(dolls) to express her thoughts and also spread her message. Her doll was presented as "Beauty ideals, the girl Tuk Tuk". (click here if you are interested to know more about the creations of Sabine Vogel).

the girl Tuk Tuk

As a little girl I was a passionate doll collector, so walking around these rooms packed full with dolls brought back lots of childhood memories. I had a great time in the doll house and I will definately pay them a visit again. Now, I know where to go each time I feel like going back in time to my "little girl" days :-)

Hope u all did have fun exploring with me. Anytime, u are around the Frankfurt area, make time and pay them a visit. You would definitely love it like I did, even my hubby did like it too :-))