Perched on the Fulda river in Hesse, Kassel is a German city that boasts a gorgeous collection of buildings, palaces and parks. It’s also renowned for Documenta, a world-famous contemporary art exhibition that takes place every five years.
Kassel offers plenty of ways to keep you busy outdoors, including some of Europe’s most stunning parks. Check out Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe, a sprawling hillside landscape park that took 150 years to complete. The UNESCO-listed park is also home to a number of significant attractions, such as the Hercules monument and Löwenburg Castle. There’s also Karlsaue Park, an inner-city park that features a gorgeous ensemble of canals, fountains, trees, sculptures and Baroque garden elements.
Kassel is home to some of Germany’s most enchanting castles. Located in Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe, the 18th-century Löwenburg Castle was built with a passionate romantic style and is extremely photogenic. You can join guided tours of its baroque interior, where you’ll get to see royal bedrooms, an armoury and a chapel. If you have time, take a drive outside the city to the 18th-century Schloss Wilhelmsthal, a palace that ranks as one of Germany’s finest examples of Rococo architecture. Be sure to check out the palace’s collection of gorgeous paintings in the ‘Gallery of Beauties’.