UNique – 6/10

The monumental statue of Hercules built on top of the tallest hill in Wilhelmshöhe Park dominates the surrounding city of Kassel. At the height of over 520 meters above the sea level, the statue can be seen from many viewpoints throughout Kassel and provides a natural culmination to the numerous natural and architectural features of the large hillside park below it. The local rulers, the Landgraves of Hesse, designed and constructed the park over the course of 150 years, with waterfalls, fountains and lakes added to the complex. As a result, a charming artificial water wonderland had developed in a capricious attempt to occasionally follow the strict rules of the English gardens, while striving to blend in with the pre-existing natural surroundings.

ESsential – 6/10

According to the fashion of the time, just like Sanssouci Palace complex, Wilhelmshöhe is sprinkled with faux ruins, Roman aqueducts and pseudo-classic temples. The Landgraves of Hesse wanted not only to show off their wealth but also to create a space for respite, contemplation and appreciation of architecture. In fact, the Löwenburg castle in Wilhelmshöhe park, which imitates a knight’s medieval castle, was one of the first of such structures in Germany and started an important trend of romantic Gothic Revival. Still, the greatest engineering achievements in the park have to do with the massive hydraulic system of underground pipes, which connect the various water features throughout Wilhelmshöhe. In order for the water to rush down the Cascades below the statue of Hercules, the water is connected from a spring source 3 kilometers away.

COst-effective – 7/10

Every Wednesday and Sunday the waterworks are on display as the water rushes down the Cascades and culminates with a 50-meter fountain at the bottom lake. Unfortunately, we just missed the display, having arrived on Thursday. Still, the park is a spectacle in itself and makes for a wonderful stroll full of glorious viewpoints and shady vistas. The entrance to the park is free, but you have to pay to visit the museums housed in the Palace. Kassel is in itself a small provincial town, which is well-connected by bus and train to major cities in Germany.