Kassel, with around 200,000 inhabitants the third largest city in Hesse and a documenta city, is always worth a visit. Of course, the biggest highlight is the world’s most important series of contemporary art exhibitions, which takes place every five years, but Kassel has worthwhile sights to offer all year round.
Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe
The Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe is the largest mountain park in Europe and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you visit it on Wednesdays, Sundays or a public holiday, you can also marvel at the Kassel trick fountains, always from May to October from 2 p.m. The park itself is worth a day trip, as there are numerous attractions to explore.
The Hercules
In addition to the documenta, the Hercules is the undisputed landmark of the northern Hessian city. It has been enthroned above the Bergpark for 300 years and looks most impressive from Wilhelmshöhe Palace.
The octagon, on which the Hercules stands, can also be visited from the inside in the season from March to mid-November.
Wilhelmshöhe Palace
Wilhelmshöhe Palace is also a must on any visit to Kassel. The Old Masters art exhibition inside the impressive building presents artists such as Rubens and Van Dyck. The Weissenstein wing, on the other hand, vividly shows how the lords of the castle in the 18. and 19th century and has retained its historic furnishings over the years.
The Löwenburg
Contrary to what the name might suggest, the Löwenburg is not a real castle. Rather, it is an artificial ruin that was built to beautify the mountain park. Nevertheless, its premises have historical value and are worth a visit.
Fridericianum
The Fridericianum is one of the main attractions of Kassel’s city centre. This cultural center on Friedrichplatz is impressive from the outside as well as from the inside. A wide variety of exhibitions always take place here and the documenta also intensively integrates the venerable building into the festivities. The Zwehrenturm at the end of the Fridericianum is also one of the last surviving medieval buildings that can be seen in Kassel. It dates from the 14th century and is therefore about 400 years older than the Fridericianum itself.
Grimm World
Kassel is considered the city of Grimm, as the two famous brothers wrote some of their most famous works here. The Grimm World at the Kassel vineyard vividly brings visitors closer to her life and work. Among the most beautiful exhibits are the personal copies of the two brothers’ fairy tales, which are provided with many handwritten annotations.
If you want to continue following in the footsteps of the two, you can go to their monument on Brüder-Grimm-Platz. It is located right next to the gate guardhouse, where the Brothers Grimm used to live. Today, it houses the Hessian Administrative Court.
Information about the Grimm World
Opening hours
(As of 12/2019)
| Tuesday – Sunday | 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. |
| Friday | 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. |
| Monday | closed |
| Easter Monday | 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. |
| Whit Monday | 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. |
| 24.12. | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. |
| 25.12. | 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. |
| 26.12. | 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. |
| 31.12. | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. |
| 01.01. | closed |
Open on all Hessian public holidays (except New Year’s Day) during regular opening hours.
Admission
| Presentation | Special Presentation | Combined ticket | Annual pass | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adults | 8 € | 5 € | 10 € | 35 € |
| Reduced | 6 € | 3 € | 7 € | 25 € |
| Family ticket | 20 € | 12 € | 25 € | 85 € |
| In groups of 8 or more people | 6 € | 3 € | 7 € | |
| In groups of 40 or more people | 5 € | 3 € | 6 € |
Family
Parents with children and grandparents with grandchildren
Entrance free
Children < 6 years, necessary companion for severely disabled persons, Meine Card+, museum card of the German Museums Association
Reduced
Children and young people < 18, pupils, students, seniors > 65 years of age, severely disabled persons, federal volunteers and voluntary military service members, trainees, unemployed persons and social welfare recipients (with appropriate proof) or the “Mittendrin! Participation Card«, Kassel Card, GEO-Card, artCard
(As of 12/2019)
Tours
| Tours | Individual tour 90 minutes by appointment |
Public tour Permanent presentation 60 minutes Saturdays and Sundays 3 p.m. |
Public tour Special Presentation 60 minutes Sundays 4 p.m. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | 95 €* | Adults 5 €* Reduced 3 €* |
Adults 5 €* Reduced 3 €* |
| Additional offer: Foreign language | 20 € |
*Plus. Admission
Museum of Sepulchral Culture
As a location for art and culture, Kassel offers the Museum of Sepulchral Culture
something unique in the world. This museum is all about dying, death and the commemoration of it. The range of epochs dates back to the Middle Ages and includes numerous cultures around the globe. Again and again, the museum also offers exciting special exhibitions that deal with sepulchral culture, either historically or artistically.
Karlsause
Kassel is also known as a green oasis. After the Bergpark, the Karlsaue is the largest park in the city. The linchpin of the green lung is the orangery with the castle. It is also home to the Astronomical-Physical Cabinet and the Planetarium, where various cultural events are held.
Marble
The marble bath is located in the immediate vicinity of the Karlsaue and knows how to inspire with its late baroque style. It is the last surviving bath in Germany in this style. But there was never any bathing here. Instead, the Landgrave used it for lavish parties.
Island of Siebenbergen
If you come to Kassel between spring and autumn, you should definitely pay a visit to the island of Siebenbergen. This flower island at the southern end of the Karlsaue changes its planting with each season and is ideal for extensive photo sessions.
documenta
The documenta is the undisputed number one in Kassel. No wonder, as it is considered the largest and most important exhibition of modern art ever. Although the next documenta will not take place until 2022, the event will still leave its mark on the city. Kassel has bought some of the most impressive works of art, so that they can now be viewed permanently. The most famous of these works is probably the Himmelsstürmer, which is set up in front of Kassel’s main train station. This is an inclined steel tube with a length of 25 meters, on which there is a painted figure made of fiberglass, which seems to stride towards the sky.
The pickaxe of Hercules on the banks of the Fulda and the sculpture The Strangers are also remnants of the documenta.
