HANAU, a town in the Prussian province of Hesse-Nassau, on the right bank of the Main, 14 m. by rail E. from Frankfort and at the junction of lines to Friedberg, Bebra and Aschaffen burg. Pop. (1933) 40,646.
From the number of finds near Hanau, it would appear that it owes its origin to a Roman settlement. It received municipal rights in 1393, and in 1528 it was fortified and the castle rebuilt. At the end of the i6th century its prosperity received consider able impulse from the accession of the Walloons and Nether landers. Early in the 15th century Hanau became the capital of a principality of the Empire, and in 1785 the province was united to Hesse-Cassel. In 1803 it again became an independent principality. In 1815 it reverted to Hesse-Cassel, and in 1866 it was joined to Prussia.
The streets of the old town are narrow and irregular, but the new, founded at the end of the i6th century by fugitive Walloons and Netherlanders, is built in the form of a pentagon with broad streets crossing at right angles. Among the principal buildings are the ancient castle, formerly the residence of the counts of Hanau, who are buried in the old church of St. Mary; the church of St. John, dating from the 17th century, with a handsome tower, and the church in the new town, built by the Walloons in the begin ning of the 17th century in the form of two intersecting circles. Hanau is the birthplace of the brothers Grimm, to whom a monu ment was erected here in 1896. In the neighbourhood of the town are the palace of Philippsruhe and the spa of Wilhelmsbad. Hanau manufactures ornaments of various kinds, cigars, leather, paper, gold, silver and platina wares, chocolate, soap, hats, gloves, Machinery, chemicals and lamps. Diamond cutting is carried on and the town has also foundries and breweries. It carries on trade in wood, wine and corn, in addition to its articles of manu facture.