Kassel: the largest historical water system in the world and a UNESCO gem

The landscape around Kassel, a city of 2,000 in northern Hesse, generally does not have dramatic horizons. As is usual in central Germany, the lowlands alternate with wide river valleys, the region is covered with a mosaic of forests, fields and settlements. But still! At the western edge of Kassel, the terrain rises with a long wave to a height of over 500 meters above sea level, which significantly exceeds the valley of the river Fulda.

A work of a visionary that had no parallel in the world

It was in these places at the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries that Land Crab Karel, the then ruler of the state of Hesse-Kassel, decided to build a castle park that was not to have an equal in Europe. The main landmark and the highest part of the park became the so-called Octagon with a giant statue of the god Hercules, which is followed by an equally magnificent system of cascades, which later branches into several directions in the lower part of the park. And it was the system of these artificial waterways, originally put into operation "for the pleasure of the manor, that made Wilhelmshöhe Park a unique attraction in the world.

The water show, as the attraction is simply called (but don't imagine any Disneyland), requires a huge amount of water, one "show" swallows about 350,000 liters. The supply is provided by an artificial reservoir, located in the forest only slightly higher than the statue of Hercules, and the water is distributed by a complex system of canals and pipes so that the individual water elements are synchronized.

From Hercules down along the cascades

The unique water show in Wilhelmshöhe Park was first shown in 1714. Today you can see it twice a week during the warmer season. During the four summer Sundays, you can also watch the night performances with lighting.

From the point of view of the observer, the fascinating thing about this water system is that you can watch the progress of the water from top to bottom, ie from Hercules to the castle, as if in a live broadcast. The water goes down through cascades, artificial steps and so on, rolling relatively slowly and you can catch the "forehead" by walking faster.

When the flap in the massive fountain opens, the water shoots under the pressure of eight atmospheres to a height of fifty meters, and after a while the water wave reaches the artificial aqueduct and proceeds down another waterfall. At times, you may not know which way to go first. In any case, we recommend proper shoes and it won't hurt to go to the information center at Hercules' statue in advance and watch the local video projection, which presents the entire water show from a bird's eye view.

Large fountain and lake

More than just water

The high-quality artistic decoration of the park, consisting of many statues, smaller and larger romantic buildings, all using refined landscape views also contributes to the unique impression of Kassel's water pleasures. The concept of the chateau park is the work of the Italian architect Giovanni Francesco Guernier, whom Landcrab Charles hired in 1701 for this truly colossal work.

The inspiration for Italian designs and Charles' passion for Italian garden architecture is obvious here. Even the appearance of Hercules' statue was probably influenced by the huge sculpture of St. Charles Borromeo over Lake Maggiore, which Charles was to see on his Italian journey.

Steinhöfer waterfall

Kassel, Germany

However, work in Wilhelmshöhe Park continued even after Charles' death (he ruled from 1670 to 1730). Only later was the current appearance of Wilhelmshöhe Castle, which is a monumental landmark of the lower part of the park.

In the castle, it is appropriate to end the tour of the entire complex and it is again a pasture for the soul. The local picture gallery is one of the best in all of Germany. Above all, there are excellent works by Dutch masters, including more than a dozen Rembrandts.

And then it was time for more mundane tastes. Café Jerôme in the basement of the castle not only serves coffee and delicious desserts, but you can also eat there well. We haven't eaten such a delicious creation, which was the local stuffed potatoes, for a long time. In a luxurious environment and at prices that do not differ much from the Czech ones.

Kassel, Germany. Aerial view of the castle park with the statue of Hercules

Traces of war and calm in the meadows

Impressions change rapidly from Wilhelmshöhe Castle to Kassel city center. The city was destroyed by about 80 percent of British air raids in 1943, and the post-war completion is one of the most successful. In other words, preference was given to "traffic-optimal solutions". This means, however, that the rest of the historic architecture that survived the war was demolished. Old Kassel no longer resembles anything today, and in truth there are many reasons to stay in the city center for a long time.

However, you can still close the arc from Hercules in a positive spirit. In places where the Fulda River meanders through a flat valley and branches into several branches, ie just below the modern city center, Land Crab Karel had a second impressive park complex built, this time called Karlsaue (Karl's Meadow). Its most beautiful building is the wide Orangery, which the Kassel rulers occasionally used as a winter refuge.

Wilhelmshöhe Palace

Devil's Bridge

In contrast to the dramatic scenery of the Wilhelmshöhe Park, the extensive flat meadows around the Orangery have a mild, calming effect. In the evening, local boys come here to play football and joggers run around the lawns. You will have the entire Karlsaue complex at your fingertips from the Halle document building, the center of prestigious documentary art exhibitions held every 5 years. The next one will be in the summer of 2017.

Kassel, Germany- Source: www.openstreetmap.org