Kassel

Kassel, a city in central Germany, is known for its rich artistic and cultural offerings. Every five years, it hosts Documenta, a major contemporary art exhibition. The city is home to Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with cascading waterfalls and the towering Hercules Monument. Kassel has strong connections to the Brothers Grimm, who lived and worked here for over 30 years. You can explore numerous museums, including the GRIMMWELT, dedicated to the famous fairy tale collectors, and relax in expansive parks like Karlsaue.

Exploring Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe

Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is Europe's largest hillside park. It covers 240 hectares and took 150 years to complete. At its center stands the Hercules Monument, a 70-meter-high copper statue atop the Karlsberg Mountain. From here, a 350-meter baroque cascade runs down to Wilhelmshöhe Palace. The park's water features, powered by gravity alone, operate every Wednesday and Sunday afternoon from May to October. As you walk through the park, you'll see the Löwenburg Castle, designed to look like a medieval ruin, and gardens with over 1,500 flower species.

Contemporary Art at Documenta

Every five years, Kassel hosts Documenta, a 100-day contemporary art exhibition. The event transforms the entire city, with artworks appearing in public spaces and venues throughout Kassel. The Fridericianum, one of Europe's oldest public museums, serves as the main location. Between Documenta years, you can still see remnants of past exhibitions around the city, such as Joseph Beuys' "7000 Oaks" project.

The Legacy of the Brothers Grimm

Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm spent over 30 years in Kassel. At the GRIMMWELT museum, you can learn about their work beyond fairy tales, including their extensive German dictionary. The museum displays personal copies of their "Children's and Household Tales," now part of UNESCO's Memory of the World Register. If you visit Kassel in summer, you might catch the Brothers Grimm Festival, while winter brings a fairy tale-themed Christmas market.

Relaxing in Karlsaue Park

Karlsaue Park, a 16th-century green space along the Fulda River, offers a calm retreat from the city center. The park's design includes a network of canals, lakes, and fountains. At its center is the Orangerie, a baroque palace that now houses a planetarium and scientific instruments. In spring and summer, you can see the colorful blooms on the Siebenbergen flower island. The park also displays outdoor sculptures from past Documenta exhibitions.

Kassel's Museums

Kassel has a high concentration of museums. The Neue Galerie displays 19th and 20th-century art, including works by Max Slevogt and Joseph Beuys. For an unusual experience, visit the Museum für Sepulkralkultur, which focuses on death and burial customs. The Naturkundemuseum, located in Germany's oldest permanent theater building, exhibits natural history items, including Goethe's famous elephant. In Wilhelmshöhe Palace, you'll find the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, home to a collection of Old Masters, including the second-largest assembly of Rembrandts in Germany.

Getting Around Kassel

Kassel has an efficient public transportation system. Seven tram lines run through the city, with trams arriving every 15 minutes. The RegioTram network connects the city center with surrounding areas. For longer journeys, Kassel has two main railway stations: Kassel Hauptbahnhof and Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe, connecting the city to major German destinations. If you're flying in, you can use Kassel Calden Airport, which serves the region.