Kassel

Kassel is first documented in 913 CE, though archaeological finds show earlier habitation, and it became a centre and later residence of the Landgraviate of Hesse. During the Thirty Years' War the Landgrave declared for the Protestant cause, and the city later became a haven for Huguenot refugees from France, who brought trades and skills with them. Under Napoleon, Kassel briefly served as capital of the Kingdom of Westphalia, ruled by Napoleon's brother Jérôme Bonaparte from the palace at Wilhelmshöhe, then renamed Napoleonshöhe, until 1813. Kassel's Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe, begun in 1689 under the Landgraves of Hesse-Kassel and developed over roughly 150 years, covers 2.4 km², making it the largest hillside park in Europe and the second largest on a hill slope worldwide; it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013 for its Baroque architecture and monumental water features. Kassel is also internationally known as the home of documenta, a major contemporary art exhibition held every five years.

By car

Motorways ( Hannover

Würzburg ), (Kassel- Dortmund ) and (Kassel- Marburg ) leads to Kassel.

By train

Kassel is an important hub in the ICE network and is one of the cities on the first purpose-built German high speed rail line connecting Würzburg and Hanover . Most ICE and some local trains serve

Fernbahnhof Kassel-Wilhemshöhe , about 4 km west of downtown. The private operator Flixtrain also serves Kassel Wilhelmshöhe. Flixtrain does not accept DB tickets and vice versa.

Kassel's historic

Hauptbahnhof (main station) , that was refurbished following the opening of the Wilhelmshöhe station has been branded "Kulturbahnhof" (culture station) and is much closer to downtown. Only regional trains operating to/from here. You can take a train from one station to the other and it's advisable to start your exploration from Hauptbahnhof as it is much closer to most sights.

By bus

The

Busbahnhof Kassel Wilhelmshöhe ( intercity bus station), also known as the ZOB, adjoins the Kassel-Wilhemshöhe Bahnhof. There is another intercity bus station at

Kaufungen-Papierfabrik , a few meters behind the city boundary of Kassel at the motorway.

Kassel's Hauptbahnhof (Kulturbahnhof) is close to downtown and most sights; trams and buses connect the wider city, including Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe.

Parks

Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe .

Since 2013 on the UNESCO World Heritage List , 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 medieval castles, fake quarries - 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 (1 May-3 Oct) the Wasserspiele (watergames) every Wednesday, Sunday and on public holidays starting from 14:30. 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 down slope. Löwenburg and Schloss Wilhelmshöhe

(palace Wilhelmshöhe) with its old masterpieces of art.   ( updated Feb 2019 )

Karlsaue , a Baroque riverside park south of the city centre.

Visitors can watch the Wilhelmshöhe Wasserspiele (see above) and walk the Bergpark's grounds. Every five years the city hosts documenta, a major international contemporary art exhibition.

• Frankfurt — Hesse's largest city and financial hub, reachable by regional/ICE train
• Nearby towns in Hessen — explore the surrounding region