The university town of Kassel hardly shows any scars of the bombing which devastated it during the Second World War. Nestled on the banks of the Fulda River in the very heart of Germany, the sprawling Kassel is home to a baroque park and UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe, many wooded areas and parks including two of Europe’s greatest gardens, which make it one of Germany’s greenest cities. Fairytales are woven into the core of the city, which is also the place where the Grimm Brothers studied. Head to the culture-rich heart of the country and read on to know the many interesting things to do in Kassel, Germany.
1. Learn local folklore at Museum of Hessian History
The Museum of Hessian History was established in 1913, marking Kassel’s 1,000th anniversary, and is a must-visit to seek a better understanding of the rich history of Hesse and the surrounding regions. The diverse, large collection in the museum is also particularly known for its collection and handling of the local traditional Hessian folklore, which also includes the life and times of the Brothers Grimm.
Museum of Hessian History
Address:Schloss, Schloßpark 1, 34131 Kassel
Website: Museum of Hessian History
Opening hours: Tue, Thu - Sun: 10am - 5pm; Wed: 10am - 8pm (closed on Mon)
2. Marvel at the remarkable architecture of Schloss Wilhelmshöhe
The 17th-century Neoclassical-style palace of Schloss Wilhelmshöhe is most notable for being the summer home of Kaiser Wilheim II, Germany’s last Emperor. Today, the palace holds within its folds a superb, diverse collection of antiquities, and the Gallery of the Old Masters with 17 Rembrandts and 11 Van Dycks is at the very heart of it. Other notable items in the collection include ceramics, glass, furniture, and prehistoric and classical antiquities.
Schloss Wilhelmshöhe
Address: Schlosspark 1, 34131 Kassel
Website: Schloss Wilhelmshöhe
Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 10am - 5pm (closed on Mon)
3. See the carvings at Hercules Monument
The highest point of the stunning, baroque UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe, Europe’s largest hillside park, is the imposing 526-meter-tall (1,726 feet) Karlsberg mountain. At the zenith of the mountain lies the incredible Hercules Monument, a stunning, long cascade of water plunging from its depths. The entire structure consists of the statue atop a pyramid, which itself sits atop an octagon. Summer evenings see the cascades, the fountain, and the figurine of Hercules entirely illuminated.
Hercules Monument
Address: Schlosspark 28, 34131 Kassel
Website: Hercules Monument
Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 10am - 5pm (closed on Mon)
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4. Check out the exhibits at Orangerie
The 400-acre (162 hectares) gorgeous, wooded Karlsaue Park features many Baroque elements including canals, fountains, and lakes. A singular highlight of this place is the yellow-coloured, palatial Orangerie, a 17th-century built, exotic structure which originally served as a winter garden. Today, the imposing place is a planetarium and also houses a unique collection of historic scientific instruments. With the bright, yellow-orange painted walls visible from afar, Orangerie is definitely one of Kassel’s highlights.
Orangerie
Address: Auedamm 18, 34121 Kassel
Website: Orangerie
Opening hours: Sat - Thu: 10am - 5pm; Fri: 10am - 8pm
5. Participate in the workshop at Grimm World
Kassel is famous as the hometown of the Brothers Grimm, who spent much of their former years writing fairytales and folktales in the city, which is also the reason for Kassel receiving the designation of the ‘Memory of the World’ from UNESCO. The city’s newest attraction, the fascinating Grimm World museum, is an ode to the Grimm culture and employs state-of-the-art tech to explore the legacy and work of the Brothers Grimm. A must-do here is participating in an educational workshop at the 'Free Room’.
Grimm World
Address: Weinbergstraße 21, 34117 Kassel
Website: Grimm World
Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 10am - 6pm (closed on Mon)
6. See contemporary art at Neue Galerie
Art enthusiasts must head to Kassel’s New Gallery, which features contemporary artwork from the 19th and 20th centuries. The greatly enjoyable collection of art includes many pleasing landscape paintings and Impressionist and Romantic styles by artists like Max Slevogt as well as impressive sculptures by Joseph Beuys. Art lovers will also love the regular visiting displays which are hosted here round the year.
Neue Galerie
Address: Schöne Aussicht 1, 34117 Kassel
Website: Neue Galerie
Opening hours: Tue - Thu, Sat - Sun: 10am - 5pm; Fri: 10am - 8pm (closed on Mon)
7. Admire green spaces at Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe
The extensive Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is Europe’s largest hillside park and unarguably one if its best parklands. The sprawling 240-hectare-park (~26 million sq. feet), which took a whopping 150 years to build, is nestled at the base of the Karlsberg Mountain, atop which sits the magnificent Hercules Monument. The park is also home to the 17th-century castle Schloss Wilhelmshöhe. However, Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe’s biggest pull is the stunning water displays and hundreds of flowers and plants.
Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe
Address: 34131 Kassel, Germany
Website: Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
8. Explore the Museum for Sepulchral Culture
Have you ever visited a museum that’s dedicated to death? The highly unusual but fascinating Museum for Sepulchral Culture is one of Europe’s most singular museums, allowing visitors to walk through burial, death, and commemoration themes of departed humans. Think sculptures and artwork related to death, mourning garb, memorials, tombstones, and coffins going right back to the Middle Ages. The museum’s exhibits also deal with grieving and the celebration of life, making it a must-visit.
Museum for Sepulchral Culture
Address: Weinbergstraße 25, 34117 Kassel
Website: Museum for Sepulchral Culture
Opening hours: Tue, Thu - Sun: 10am - 5pm; Wed: 10am - 8pm (closed on Mon)
9. Learn about Kassel's origin at Stadtmuseum
There’s nothing more fascinating than learning the history of the city you’re travelling to - and Kassel’s origins are fascinating, to say the least. The Stadtmuseum’s permanent exhibition has three sections, the first of which explores the city’s origins and its journey as the capital of the Landgraviate. The second section explores the rise of the bourgeoisie and industrialization in the city, while the third deals with the destruction and aftermath of World War II, as well as the economic and cultural rebirth of 21st-century Kassel.
Stadtmuseum
Address: Ständepl. 16, 34117 Kassel
Website: Stadtmuseum
Opening hours: Tue, Thu - Sun: 10am - 5pm; Wed: 10am - 8pm (closed on Mon)
10. Look at the stunning structure of Markthalle Kassel
It’s hard to imagine a market set up inside a grand old building, but the Markthalle in Kassel is something else. Located in the city centre, the market hall of Kassel is a treat for those who love to cook and eat in equal measure! The gabled, Renaissance Revival structure features 70 traders with suppliers from all over Germany. You can get not only groceries but also speciality foods like chocolates, handmade pralines, artisan mustard, freshly baked pastries, olives, and homemade jams, among others. If you’re in Kassel on a weekend, come down to the Markthalle for breakfast!
Markthalle Kassel
Address: Wildemannsgasse 1, 34117 Kassel
Website: Markthalle Kassel
Opening hours: Thu - Fri: 7am - 6pm; Sat: 7am - 2pm (closed from Sun - Wed)
11. Head to the Scottish-style Löwenburg
One of the highlights of Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe is the magnificent ruins of the medieval Löwenburg Castle. The artistically designed castle features baroque interiors with royal rooms, an armoury, and even a Neo-Gothic chapel, while the exteriors comprise a stunning verdant garden, a menagerie, a tiltyard, and even a sprawling vineyard. Built in the last 1700s in true Scottish Ossian style, Löwenburg is a must-visit for culture buffs.
Löwenburg Castle
Address: Schloßpark 9, 34131 Kassel
Website: Löwenburg Castle
Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 10am - 5pm (closed on Mon)
12. Enjoy the admirable show at Wasserspiele
One of Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe’s most picturesque and scenic sights is the 250-metre-high (820 feet) water cascade of Wasserspiele springing to life from the summit of Karlsberg every Sunday and Wednesday at 2:30pm between May to October. The water show continues to take place at two stunning waterfalls, one underneath the Devil’s Bridge and the second flowing from what look like Roman aqueduct ruins. The dramatic conclusion is a fountain shooting a 50-metre-high (164 feet) water jet at an artificial pond near Schloss Wilhelmshöhe.
Wasserspiele
Address: Große Kaskaden, 34131 Kassel
Website: Wasserspiele
Opening hours: Sun, Wed, Hessian holidays: 2:30pm - 3pm (closed on Thu - Sat, Mon - Tue)
13. Be amazed by the iconic Marmorbad
One of Kassel’s most unique attractions is Marmorbad and is also the last of its kind to have survived in Germany. Located right next to Orangerie in Karlsaue Park, the 18th-century, late-Baroque marble baths of Marmorbad comprise 12 stunning life-size marble sculptures and 10 wall reliefs. The masterpiece bathhouse also features medallions with portraits of the Landgrave and his wife, as well as colourful wall reliefs.
Marmorbad
Address: An der Karlsaue 20d, 34121 Kassel
Website: Marmorbad
Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 10am - 5pm (closed on Mon)
14. Visit the unique Ottoneum
The Ottoneum, which in actuality is Germany’s first purpose-built theatre structure, has transformed into an extremely intriguing Natural History Museum in Kassel. Dating back to the beginning of the 17th century, the museum houses thrilling exhibits such as the region’s natural history dating back to the Paleozoic era and artefacts related to local traditions and trades. Other must-see exhibits include the set of pressed plants dating from the mid-1500s, the unique Schildbach Wooden Library, and the famous Goethe elephant.
Ottoneum
Address: Steinweg 2, 34117 Kassel, Germany
Website: Ottoneum
Opening hours: Tue, Thu, Fri - Sat: 10am - 5pm; Wed: 10am - 8pm; Sun: 10am - 6pm (closed on Mon)
15. Stroll through Karlsaue Park
The formally designed historical 400-acre (162 hectares) Karlsaue Park on the banks of the River Fulda is a gorgeous wooded area, complete with Baroque features and canals, fountains, and artificial lakes - and a riot of colours. Don’t miss checking out the symmetrical Aueteich pond and the flower island of Siebenbergen, all converging at a spacious garden in the north of the park, right in front of the Baroque planetarium and scientific equipment-housing Orangerie.
Karlsaue Park
Address: Auedamm 18, 34121 Kassel
Website: Karlsaue Park
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
16. See the interactive displays at Grimmwelt Kassel
Grimm World doesn’t touch upon the lives and the works of the Brothers Grimm in the usual manner of formal display of exhibits - it transports the listener into another realm by employing fascinating interactive, medial, and artistic exhibits. Some of the best, must-see exhibits include the ‘Coloured Roots’ in the section 'Wooden Roots’, personal copies of 'Children’s’ and Household Tales’ featuring handwritten comments by the Brothers Grimm, and the mind-boggling German dictionary installation titled 'Random Reading/Book of Words’.
Grimm World
Address: Weinbergstraße 21, 34117 Kassel
Website: Grimm World
Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 10am - 6pm (closed on Mon)
17. Tour the exhibition at Fridericianum
The majestic Neoclassical structure of the 18th-century-built Fridericianum is the world’s oldest public museum building as well as one of Europe’s oldest museums. Built by then-Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel Frederick II, the Fridericanium became the state library in 1913 before suffering heavy damage in World War II and eventually being resurrected by documenta in 1955. Today, the building is usually used for temporary art exhibitions, the biggest and the best-known of which is the ‘documenta’.
Fridericianum
Address: Friedrichspl. 18, 34117 Kassel
Website: Fridericianum
Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 11am - 6pm (closed on Mon)
18. Sample delicious cocktails at The Hemingway Club
Who’d have known that the spacious cellars of the Rathaus Town Hall would have been perfect for a night out on the town? Descend into the classic cocktail bar of The Hemingway Club downtown, which not only has a wide variety of delicious cocktails, but it also has a special liking for everything that is gin. If you’re here in summer, the alfresco terrace will do nicely. Happy hours are till 8pm, and cigar lovers are most welcome.
The Hemingway Club
Address: Obere Königsstraße 8, 34117 Kassel
Website: The Hemingway Club
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 6pm - 1am; Fri - Sat: 6pm - 2am (closed on Sun)
19. Solve puzzles at Lockbusters Live Escape Games
Why not have some fun in Kassel by indulging in an ‘Escape Room’ game? Fun for the young and old both in equal measure, Lockbusters is an innovative way for families and friends to spend time. The group is locked in a room and the objective is to search it for clues, hiding places, locked chests, and hidden stuff. The game is more about common sense and a good amount of teamwork, and you can end up having some really good fun!
Lockbusters Live Escape Games
Address: Fünffensterstraße 9A, 34117 Kassel
Website: Lockbusters Live Escape Games
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 4pm - 10pm; Sat - Sun: 10am - 10pm
20. Exercise the grey matter at Technik-Museum
The former halls of the Henschel-Werk II factory are now home to a bunch of one-of-a-kinds–unique treasures of the Technik-Museum in Kassel. Housing a collection spanning more than 300 glorious years of Kassel’s technical history, the Technick Museum houses technology related to everything from automotive, metal music, and medical tech to mechanical engineering, precision engineering and electronics, and also features guided tours of the museum. Don’t miss seeing the historic tram collection and the 1706 steam pump demonstration, which is one of the museum’s oldest exhibits.
Technik-Museum
Address: Wolfhager Str. 109, 34127 Kassel
Website: Technik-Museum
Opening hours: Wed - Fri: 2pm - 5pm; Sat - Sun: 11am - 5pm (closed on Mon & Tue)
21. Pay a visit to Kirche St. Maria
If you’re an admirer of churches, then a visit to the late 19th-century-built St. Maria’s Church is necessary. Also known as the Rosary Church, St. Maria’s is a Roman-Catholic parish church but in classic Neo-Romanesque style with a transept, two aisles, and a large nave. Mass happens five times a week on Wednesdays at 9am, on Fridays and Saturdays at 6pm, and on Sundays at 9:30am and 11am.
Kirche St. Maria
Address: Kirchweg, 34119 Kassel
Website: Kirche St. Maria
22. Capture the beautiful Botanischer Garten through your lens
Bring out the camera at the utterly picturesque Botanischer Garten Kassel, a municipal botanical garden in the city known to be open every day of the week. Founded in 1912 as a school garden, the Botanischer Garten was named a general green area in 1982, subsequently seeing restoration in 2002. Today, with new theme gardens and 1950s features, the garden also houses a cactus house, a medicinal herb garden, a rose garden, and even perennials.
Botanischer Garten
Address: Bosestraße 15, 34121 Kassel, Germany
Website: Botanischer Garten
Opening hours: 8am - 7:30pm (daily)
23. Relax at Stadthallengarten
If you want a relaxing time out in Kassel, head straight to the Stadthallenarten, which is a popular hangout for the young and the elderly alike. Summer and spring are when the Stadthallenarten is particularly striking, what with the extensive and richly flowering ornamental plantations which appear in surprisingly different colour combinations every year. With origins going back to 1905, the original design concept of the garden has been preserved till date, complete with natural stone walls, seats, narrow paths, a chess field, and stone tables, and many, many flowerbeds.
Stadthallengarten
Address: 34119 Kassel
Website: Stadthallengarten
24. Have fun at The Shamrock - Irish Pub
For a taste of amazing Irish beer and whiskey, the pizza of your choice from that place that you like, and a fun-filled karaoke session or a live sports screening, head to the innately Irish Shamrock - the Irish Pub in Kassel. This classic, lovely Irish pub features everything right from pub quizzes, karaoke parties, live soccer screening, and live music sessions, all while serving Cider, Snakebite, Guinness, shots, and cocktails. Run by a bunch of seriously amazing Irish guys, this pub is worth a visit even on St. Patrick’s Day, when it is packed to the hilt. They don’t have a kitchen, hence the pizza can be gotten along!
The Shamrock - Irish Pub
Address: Bürgermeister-Brunner-Straße 19, 34117 Kassel
Website: The Shamrock - Irish Pub
Opening hours: Mon - Wed: 5pm - 2am; Thu - Fri: 5pm - 3am; Sat: 2pm - 3am; Sun: 2pm - 2am
25. Enjoy DJ night at Club A.R.M.
The only place to go clubbing in Kassel is the legendary, cult favorite A.R.M. On the outside, it might look like a ramshackle building complex, but on the inside, the catchphrase is ‘fun’! The art and club centre puts the best of the best rap, hip-hop, and live rock music belted out by extremely talented elektro DJs in the form of art exhibitions, film nights, and even a Black Light Pong Pong night. There’s even a mellow garden in the back to take a breather and pump up your energy reserves before heading inside again!
A.R.M.
Address: Werner-Hilpert-Straße 22, 34117 Kassel
Website: A.R.M.
26. Dine at Restaurant Gutshof
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Öffnungszeiten: Täglich: ab 12:00 Uhr Warme Küche: täglich von 12:00 Uhr bis 14:30 Uhr und von 18:00 Uhr bis 22:00 Uhr http://www.restaurant-gutshof.de
Posted by Restaurant Gutshof on Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Historical dining doesn’t get any better than at the Gutshof restaurant, which is nestled at the base of the slopes of the romantic Wilhelmshöhe park. The former manor house serves up a wide choice of culinary delights which range from international specialities to amazing regional Hessian cuisine made from the finest and the freshest of ingredients.
Restaurant Gutshof
Address: Wilhelmshöher Allee 347A, 34131 Kassel
Website: Restaurant Gutshof
Opening hours: 12pm - 11pm (daily)
Kingly Kassel
Kassel is a city with many facets, and there is no dearth of things to do and places to see in this town that radiates a noble, royal aura. Explore the many faces of this sprawling, Baroque, and verdant university town on the banks of the Fulda. Make sure to keep this list of things to do in mind on your next trip.
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