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Kassel is a city in northern Hesse, Germany, with a rich history as a former capital of Hesse-Kassel and a centre of Calvinist Protestantism. It has many palaces and parks, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe, and is known for the documenta exhibitions of contemporary art.
- Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe
- Schloss Wilhelmshöhe
- Wasserspiele
- Hercules Monument
- Löwenburg
- Karlsaue
- Orangerie
- Marmorbad
- Documenta
- Fridericianum
A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2013, the Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe is the largest hillside park in Europe, covering 240 hectares on Karlsberg. At the end of the 17th century there was a French formal garden in front of Schloss Wilhelmshöhe. Over the next 150 years this was reworked in the English style and embellished with imaginative monuments in ...
The Neoclassical palace on the east side of the park was constructed at the end of the 18th century for Landgrave William IX of Hesse and was a favourite summer retreat of Germany’s last Emperor Kaiser Wilhelm II between 1888 and 1918. It now holds a collection of antiquities, and the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister (Painting Gallery of the Old Masters...
One of the most photogenic sights in the Bergpark is the 250-metre water cascade on the alley from the summit of Karslberg. This springs to life every Wednesday and Sunday at 14:30 from May to October. The mechanisms used are the same as in the days of the Margraves and Electors. The show continues at a waterfall beneath the Teufelsbrücke (Devil’s ...
The summit of the Karlsberg at the northernmost point of the park is topped with a statue of Hercules that has been here since 1717. The monument was carved across 16 years by the Italian sculptor Giovanni Francesco Guerniero. It can be a bit of a challenge, but after conquering the 200 steps to the summit of the hill you’ll be treated to a sensati...
One of the sights in Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe is what looks like a medieval castle in ruins. Löwenburg was built between 1793 and 1801 in a Scottish style. It was inspired by the Scottish Ossian cycle of epic poems, which was all the rage in the Romantic period. Löwenburg was ordered by Landgrave William I of Hesse-Kassel and as a pleasure palace was ...
On the easternmost point of the Wilhelmshöher Allee is another noble park, this one laid out for Charles I, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel at the beginning of the 18th century. Being earlier than Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe, the Karlsaue has a formal design. The pond, Aueteich has a symmetrical shape and the canals and central alley all converge at a spacious...
Charles I’s palace in the Karlsaue was intended as both a summer escape and somewhere to winter his collection of Mediterranean plants. Atop the balustrade and the roof of the palace’s avant-corps are classical-style statues of figures from ancient mythology from the middle of the 18th century. The central building holds the Astronomisch-Physikalis...
In the Orangerie’s western pavilion is a sumptuous bathhouse created in the 1720s for Charles I. The Marmorbad is the last of its kind in Germany and is seen as a masterpiece of Late Baroque design, furnished with one of the most splendid 18th-century sculptural ensembles north of the Alps. The sculpture and decoration was composed by the French-It...
You can’t have a list about Kassel without mentioning this internationally renowned contemporary art show, often described as the “Museum of 100 Days”. The show takes place once every five years, which means that the next edition won’t take place until 2022. As a way of making up for the culturally barren years under National Socialism, documenta w...
After selling Hessian soldiers to the British during the American Revolutionary War, Frederick II, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel used the proceeds to build the first public museum building on the European continent. This Neoclassical palace contained the art and scientific instruments that have since been moved to Schloss Wilhelmshöhe and the Orangerie...
Aug 5, 2024 · Welcome to Kassel! Be inspired by our travel tips and discovery tours, quickly and easily find sights, museums and other highlights near you, discover exciting details about Kassel's neighbourhoods and much more: with visit.kassel, all the information you need for an unforgettable Kassel experience is at your fingertips!
- Anwesha Ray
- Löwenburg castle. Follow the footsteps of the knights to the magnificent Löwenburg castle, deliberately and artistically designed to resemble a semi-ruined medieval castle.
- Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe.
- Karlsaue Park. The historical park of Karlsaue, spanning over 400 acres, is an outstanding ensemble consisting of a symmetric system of canals, lakes, fountains, towering trees, sculptures, marble baths and the flower island Siebenbergen that bursts into a riot of colors in spring-summer.
- Walter De Maria’s Vertical Earth Kilometer. Step off the beaten tourist path and visit this interesting spot in the Friedrichsplatz Park. The Vertical Earth Kilometer is a 1 km (.62 mile) long brass rod driven in the ground through six geological layers, with only its top (resembling a small metal disc) visible on the surface of the ground.
Dec 26, 2023 · Discover the cultural, historical, and natural wonders of Kassel, a delightful old town in central Germany. Explore its stunning parks, palaces, museums, and art events, including the famous documenta festival.
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Discover Kassel's cultural heritage, from the Brothers Grimm to documenta, and its stunning Wilhelmshöhe Park UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore the city's museums, palaces, gardens and outdoor art installations.