In Rapunzel, what does the princess let down from her tower?

In “Rapunzel,” the princess lets down her hair from the tower so visitors can climb up to her. The long hair functions as the story’s famous substitute for a staircase or ladder.

The tale was recorded by the Brothers Grimm and published in 1812 in their collection Children’s and Household Tales. In the traditional version, an enchantress keeps Rapunzel in an isolated tower with no door or staircase. The enchantress calls from below, “Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair,” then climbs the hanging braid to reach the room.

A common mix-up comes from modern retellings, which may portray Rapunzel’s hair as magical, extraordinarily strong, or used by a prince. In the Grimm story, its remarkable length is a narrative device, not necessarily a supernatural power. The prince eventually learns the call and visits Rapunzel, but the enchantress discovers the secret and cuts Rapunzel’s hair. The story’s details vary considerably across later children’s books, films, and stage adaptations.