Kassel is a city at the heart of Germany, characterised by its contradictions. Even though, at first glance, the city on the River Fulda might appear quiet, it offers visitors all kinds of entertainment.
Many come to Kassel in search of relaxation. Visitors who would like to treat themselves to a rejuvenating spa treatment should head to the Kurhessen Therme or the Habichtswald Clinic. Almost two thirds of the city is made up of parkland, creating a relaxed atmosphere in this otherwise busy urban centre, which is home to nearly 200 000 people. A popular recreational area is the Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe, a castle with grounds dating to the baroque era lying at the foot of the Habichtswald Nature Park.
Kassel once played an important literary role. During the 19th century the Brothers Grimm lived in Kassel, where they worked on their world-famous fairytales. An historic and nostalgic trip to the Brothers Grimm Museum is, at any rate, a must during your travels in Kassel.
Explore the city a little and you will not be surprised to discover that Kassel has the highest number of museums per head in the whole of Germany. Every five years, dOCUMENTA takes place here, a festival renowned around the globe for its exhibitions of contemporary art. If, however, you are not visiting the city during the time of the festival, there is no need to worry. There are still more than enough impressive art museums to visit during your travels in the city: The Fridericianum and the Schloss Wilhelmshöhe are both home to wonderful exhibitions, paling in comparison only to the buildings' own breathtaking architecture.
Although a large part of the city was destroyed in bombings during the Second World War, Kassel has managed to create a cityscape with a good mix of traditional and modern elements.
Thanks to numerous transport options, it is absolutely no problem to get from one area to the next in Kassel. The tram network can deliver you to practically every corner within the city limits. The Kassel-Calden Airport is only ten minutes from the city zone and the busy hub is also connected to the German rail and Autobahn networks. Kassel is only two hours from both Cologne and Frankfurt, so a short trip to this Hessian town is always worthwhile.
