Kassel Archives ⋆ Page 4 of 17 ⋆ The Passenger

March 19, 2020March 19, 2020

Magazinhof

Locals call it the Nazikaserne (Nazi barracks): the Magazinhof at Kassel, Germany. It was built in 1940 for the Wehrmacht which used it to store grain and other food (it was officially called Ersatzverpflegungsmagazin). After the war, the Bundeswehr took over the three buildings and stored cloth inside. In 1994 the army moved out, the buildings deteriorated, trees began to grow within the buildings, vandalism happened and fires broke out. But the building was protected by monument protection and therefore it was hard to sell.

March 8, 2020April 14, 2022

Firnsbachtal

The Firnsbach is a small and rather short stream (3.2 kilometres long) that gathers its water in the Habichtswald and runs via river Bauna into the river Fulda. On its way it passes the nice restaurant Herbsthäuschen and the former mine Schlüsselstollen. Walking along the river through its valley is nice because of the basalt rocks around, the little waterfalls and several bridges you have to pass. It doesn’t have a long gorge but it is worth a visit and can be included in longer hikes.

February 29, 2020March 2, 2020

Hallenbad Süd

The Hallenbad Süd is an indoor swimming pool at the city quarter Brückenhof of Kassel, Germany. It is existing since 1971 but it was completely refurbished in 2010 and is a very modern facility. You will find two pools – one for children and a 25 metres sports pool. Within Kassel, the Hallenbad Süd is rather remote but it is worth getting here. Only day tickets are offered and cost 3,50 Euro – the same you would pay for 1,5 hours in the Auebad (if you get a discount by getting a customer loyalty card).

February 29, 2020February 29, 2020

Hauptfriedhof

The Hauptfriedhof (main cemetery) of Kassel, Germany is located in the northern part of the city and dates back to the year 1843. You will find many old graves and monuments there – but still today people are buried here (graves are typically removed after 20 years). Well known people buried here are Philipp Scheidemann (an important social democrat from Kassel, the family Henschel (important industrials), Ludwig Emil Grimm (a younger brother of the Brothers Grimm) and composer Louis Spohr.

February 27, 2020February 27, 2020

MT Melsungen

Melsungen is a small city southeast of Kassel, Germany. It is known for its half-timbered houses, big companies and the MT Melsungen, a handball team playing in the Handball-Bundesliga (HBL). The team played sometime in Rotenburg an der Fulda and has now its home in the Rothenbach-Halle at Kassel. Handball was never a team sport I was watching and therefore I had to learn some rules of it in advance.

February 14, 2020February 15, 2020

Huskies

For me, it is the first time that I’m living in a city with an ice hockey team. I’ve never seen a match so far but I had the feeling that as an inhabitant of Kassel, Germany, you should have at least once seen a match of the Kassel Huskies. As a soccer aficionado, I had to prepare well to somehow understand the very different rules. And I didn‘t regret getting to the Eissporthalle after seeing a great 6:3 (3:0, 3:3) victory against the ESV Kaufbeuren.

January 27, 2020February 9, 2023

Auebad

If you want to go swimming in Kassel, Germany, then the Auebad might be your best choice. It is a combination of an indoor family spa with water slides, a sauna area, a pool for sports and an outdoor pool. The Auebad is located next to the river Fulda and the Staatspark Karlsaue. Swimming has a long tradition there as already in 1923 the mayor of Kassel, Philipp Scheidemann (yes, the one that in 1918 announced the German Republic) created a place at this location where it was safely possible to swim in the river.

January 6, 2020January 7, 2020

Bilsteinklippen

The Brasselsberg mountain close to Kassel, Germany, is full of rock formations of volcanic origin. There were different volcanoes and over time erosion washed weaker material out and left bizarre rocks throughout the mountains. Some are better known as they are located next to frequently used hiking paths (like the Porta Lapidaria) and some are very special like the Teufelsmauer and facilities like protective huts have been created next to them. A rather unknown beauty are the Bilsteinklippen, a collection of large volcanic rocks near the Bismarckturm.

January 6, 2020January 7, 2020

Hirzstein

When you’re hiking within the Habichtswald near Kassel, Germany you might find signs leading you to the Hirzstein – a 500 meters high rock formation with a nature preserve. Access is possible from the Teufelseck near the Teufelsmauer. It is just a one kilometre long way along the mountain through beautiful forest until you reach a viewing platform. Here you will find benches and very good views on Baunatal and Schauenburg. A detour is absolutely worth to take!

January 3, 2020January 6, 2020

Söhrebahn

The Söhrebahn was a railway leading from the city quarter Bettenhausen of Kassel, Germany, to the forest behind the village Wellerode (passing Eisenhammer, Lohfelden and Vollmarshausen). It was built in normal width (1435 mm), more than 10 kilometres long and opened in 1912. Within the Söhre brown coal had been found and it was transported from there to Kassel – but also other companies along the track started to use it and connecting tracks where built. The railway track was also used to transport persons and its existence connected the Söhre closely to Kassel. Many villages along the way grew and people used the trains to commute to the city.