The Bavarian Inn Glockenspiel has become an integral element to the legacy, history, and appeal of Frankenmuth. Built to honor the German roots of Frankenmuth’s original settlers, this iconic clock tower has become a must-see for visitors, drawing crowds daily with its enchanting musical performance of the classic tale of the Pied Piper.
Four times a day—at noon, 3 PM, 6 PM, and 9 PM—the chimes of 35 bells ring out across Michigan’s Little Bavaria. As the final note echoes through the streets, all eyes turn upward as the timeless legend of the Pied Piper begins to unfold…
Seven hundred years ago, in the beautiful town of Hameln, located on the Weser River, a terrible plague of rats occurred. No one in the town knew a cure for the dreadful condition. One day, a stranger came into the town. The strange man was dressed in brightly colored clothes and sang to them a song telling of his great skill for ridding the town of the hideous rats. He asked but a penny for each rat he removed. The town council agreed, and the Mayor of the town told the stranger to proceed with the deed.
Late that night, when the moon was full, the man pulled from his pocket a silver flute and began to play a melody both strange and enticing. The piper strolled down the street playing his pipe, and lo and behold, from every cellar, larder, dark hole, and crevice came rats by the dozen, then fifty, then hundreds. The magical notes of the melodies drew the entranced creatures from each narrow street in a long, gray winding procession. On and on the rats followed the piper who charmed them right into the River Weser where they were drowned.
The citizens watched with amazement from windows and cracks; the piper had rid them to be in the streets. The relief of deliverance from the appalling creatures was great. However, such an astonishing feat seemed to be a black art, and the citizens were filled with suspicion. They felt the stranger was in league with the devil. When the piper came for his money, the Aldermen and the Mayor had conferred, and the Mayor refused to pay the promised fee. The cheated piper refused the small token payment that was offered. Instead, with a great bitterness, he gave a serious warning of the evil to come. The people shrugged off the threat with a smile (after all the rats were gone) and, without further ado, drove the piper from the town.
Soon after, the piper returned. All the parents were attending church, and the children were happily playing in the streets; the piper appeared and pulled out his flute. The melodies that followed were stranger than those played in the past. The children stopped at their play and ran forward with laughter and song to follow the piper through the streets. Small children and older ones alike ran forth after him, afraid to miss the fun, unaware they were becoming entranced. They followed through the Bungelosenstrasse, the street where no music has ever again been played, and from there through the east gate, they were drawn from the town, onto the Seven Hills land where they vanished through a rock into the mountain.
Two children, one lame and one blind, could not keep up the pace and were left behind. They related the sorrowful story to the wretched parents who made a long search to no avail. The children had disappeared from the city, forever, never to be seen again.
Today, in the Bungelosenstrasse, in the house called the rat-catcher’s house, is still to be seen the old rhyme, carved in a beam, which tells of this historic event.
As the final figure disappears behind the clock face, the story of the Pied Piper leaves behind more than just a moment of entertainment—it leaves a lasting impression of Frankenmuth’s dedication to preserving tradition, sharing stories, and creating meaningful memories. Whether you come for the folklore, the architecture, or the world-famous Chicken Dinners, the Glockenspiel continues to be a beloved reminder that history and hospitality go hand in hand in Michigan’s Little Bavaria.
For more history of this iconic structure at Bavarian Inn Restaurant click here!
