Kassel, an urban district in the northern part of the state of Hesse, was first mentioned in the 9th century as a place where King Conrad I signed two deeds.
Kassel (previously also named Cassel) turned out to be a notorious place in the late 18th century for selling mercenaries to the British crown. This act was initiated to hold back the American insurgency and to back the erection of palaces and the landgrave’s opulent lifestyle.
For some periods in the same century, the city was seized by Napoleon and became a short-lived capital under his brother Jérôme. The seized was brought back to the restoration in 1813.
During World War II, nearly 90% of the city were destroyed and on April 3, 1945, it then was seized by the U.S. Army. Following after the war, huge parts of the town were wholly rebuilt in the style of the contemporary period. (That’s why the city has a fairly modern rather than antique style.)
The city has six major sites (three large parks and three palaces,) which are about to become UNESCO World Heritage Sites…
The hilltop Wilhelmshöhe Park puts forward a spectacular panoramic view over the city. This park is such an incredible place with the sculpture of Hercules, fountains, a miniature temple, and Wilhelmshöhe Palace.
This Palace stages Rembrandt collections all along with the famous statue of Apollo that has truly put Kassel on the international horizon. This Palace is full of an Old Masters gallery, a collection of antiquities and the Weissenstein museum.
Ruins of the neo-Gothic Löwenburg Castle possess innumerable medieval features in the form of a moat and a drawbridge. In the interior, the castle is crammed with authentic medieval fixtures and a number of rare and unique objects. This place turned out to be a visitor’s delight. They love to flock here to savoir the past with the present.
Kassel presents several events throughout the year with something to go well with every taste. The Documenta Fest is the most central and celebrated expositions of contemporary art (hence its byline “documenta Stadt”), while the International Dance Festival makes the theme of contemporary dance as its center of attention.
Documenta is organized at every five years, while the International Dance Festival is a customary program of events.
The city is a delight for the aficionado with a thick choice of culinary treats on offer at rustic beer gardens, fashionable bistros, and international restaurants.
The Backstube, an imposing beer garden, provides some of the finest beers; whereas the restaurants in the city are on a roll while offering Italian cuisine and an excellent wine list.