'''Kassel''' [http://www.kassel.de] is the regional "capital" of North Hesse in Germany and has a population of about 200 000.

Understand

History

Kassel has been first mentioned around 900 AD. Since then it has always been a provincial capital for the realms of North Hesse or ''Kur-Hesse''.

During the 30 years war ''Kassels Landgraf Philipp'' declared for the protestants. This had an effect as later numerous ''Hugenots'' emigrated from France and brought with them their trade and skills. The impact of the ''Hugenots'' can still be witnessed in the centre of Kassel where streets are named after ''Hugenots''.

Kassel became a considerable industrial and scientific city as can still be seen in the '''Orangerie''' museum where loads of scientific kit from the enlightenment period is on show. Noticeably the first steam pot producing a fountain was constructed in Kassel by ''Papin'' and rumors have it that he left Kassel in his steam boat a few years before ''James Watt'' got his prototype into shape.

Kassel was already a heavy industries site by WW2, where trains, tanks and planes were constructed. In the later years of the war Kassel was thoroughly bombed by English and American planes.

Kassel was home to the famous Grimm Brothers who wrote a lot of the fairy tales Disney uses today. The house that they lived in was made into a museum with a lot of interesting artifacts.

Get in

The best way to reach Kassel is by train since most of the Inter-City-Express trains and plenty of local trains stop at the Kassel-Wilhemshöhe station. There is also a Main train station (Hauptbahnhof) very near the city center. This station is also called "Kulturbahnhof". Trains run between the two stations. Much easier to see the downtown area if you take a train to the Hauptbahnhof and begin your exploring from there.

Get around

From the Station, trams leave towards the town centre and one can easily walk to the '''Bergpark''' which is visible from where the trams leave. If you are staying a few days in Kassel buy a public transport Wochenkarte. Ride as much as you like on the streetcars and buses for a full week from date of issue. April 2006 price was 16 euros. And while you are at it, don't miss out to have an Italian ice-cream somewhere on the way to the park.

  • Local public transport [http://www.nvv.de] (only in German).
  • See

  • Herkules and Bergpark.
  • Schloss with its old masterpieces of art.
  • Orangerie and Karlsaue
  • Documenta art exhibition (every 5 years only, next summer 2012)
  • Friedericianum - museum
  • Do

  • '''Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe'''. Worth visiting is the "Bergpark" (Mountainpark) which is supposedly the largest in Europe and second largest park on a mountain slope in the world. The park contains the '''Herkules statue''' at its top end which is towering over the city and has become its symbol. Further the park contains loads of smaller features which are mainly fake greek temples, fake medival castles, fake querries - you see where we are getting ... Not fake though are the Rembrandts and Rubens paintings in the '''Schloss''' in the park - an entrance fee is charged. The Park also features during summer months the '''Wasserspiele''' (watergames) every Wednesday and Sunday starting from 2:30pm. Various of the features such as the '''Cascades''' (below the Herkules statue), the fake waterfall and the fake '''Roman Aqueduct''' have their water supplies opened for half an hour or so each and the crowd of tourists will move from feature to feature starting on the higher parts moving downslope.
  • The '''Centre''' of Kassel itself has been thoroughy destroyed during WW2 and was rebuilt in a post-war fashion - ugly. Hence, the inner city is mainly dominated by bank and mall buildings of the modern sort. However, in walking distance from the main high street, you can reach the '''Karlsaue''', another, french style park with some old buildings containing all sort of museums (tapstries to astrology). That area is also the usual place for the Documenta art exhibition to happen every five years.
  • Getting a little bit out of the city can be a good thing. Near Lohfelden there are beautiful forests and ponds that have really good trails. Also just past there are some great churches and markets.
  • Buy

    Shopping can be somewhat difficult in Kassel compared to the United States, but most of the good shopping is located close to the Rathaus so if you get off the Strassenbahn around there you can do most of your shopping.
  • I found a good place to buy all of the stuff I needed for everyday things could be found at Mueller. It is somewhat like a Fred Meyer's or Target.
  • The best place I found to buy clothes was at the H and M. They have the best prices and clothing in my opinion around Kassel.
  • hercules cascades.

    Eat

  • There are great bakeries on every corner and throughout the city.
  • Another great place to eat is any of the little stands located on Konigsplatz(city centre)
  • Drink

  • The '''Creperie''' is a pub always popular with teenagers close to the Bebelplatz in the Friedrich-Ebert-Strasse.
  • Spot was suppose to be a great place to go out, but it all depends on what night so make sure you find out what type of music is playing that night also it is a little ways off the main strip of Kassel so be prepared for that. The best time to go is tuesdays before midnight till when they serve beer for 50 cents.
  • Check out the area around the Hauptbahnhof. There you will find Clubs like the ARM and the Cuba club two of the most favourite clubs in Kassel at the moment.
  • Sleep

  • Kassel has its own youth hostel close to the Hauptbahnhof (main railway station).
  • '''Schlosshotel Bad Wilhelmshoehe''' [http://www.schlosshotel-kassel.de/english/] Schlosspark 8 - Four star hotel with a superb view over Kassel or the hillside park with Palace Wilhelmshoehe, Castle Loewenburg and the Herkules.
  • Hotel Albatros [http://www.albatros-kassel.de/vk.html] downtown and an easy walk from the Hauptbahnhof. A classic German experience with full restaurant/bar on the main level and 15 guestrooms on the upper two floors. All rooms with WC and shower and TV. 2008 rate was EU46 single, EU 68 double which includes a large breakfast buffet. The restaurant has daily specials, and serves reasonably priced, true German cuisine.
  • Get out

  • Deutsche Märchenstrasse (German Fairytale Road) including Sababurg (original Sleeping Beauty castle), Hoher Meissner (special mount), Wasserschloss Wülmersen.
  • Medieval towns around Kassel
  • *Hannoversch Münden
  • *Hofgeismar
  • *Bad Karlshafen
  • *Bad Wildungen
  • *Rotenburg/Fulda
  • *Borken
  • *Hessisch Lichtenau
  • *Eschwege
  • *Waldeck
  • *Frankenberg
  • *Grebenstein
  • *Melsungen