Hansel and Gretel Fairytale Cottage (Witch's Hut), Kildonan Park

Known to most as “the Witch’s Hut”, this unique structure is officially called Fairy Tale Cottage, or Maerchenhaus, and was a Canadian centennial project of the German Canadian community dedicated to the children of Manitoba. Winnipeg Architect Hans-Peter Langes designed the building which replicates the witch’s hut described in Grimm’s fairy tale Hansel and Gretel. The interior includes a frieze depicting the story of Hansel and Gretel and a circular staircase that leads to the witch’s lair. Stonemason John Nelson did the actual masonry and handcrafted woodwork. Sculpturess Elfrieda Berge created relief terracotta panels depicting the entire fairy tale in sequential scenes. Josef Potempa handcrafted full scale images of Hansel, Gretel and the Witch.