Karlsaue

Staatspark Karlsaue, Kassel

The Staatspark Karlsaue is public garden in baroque style at Kassel, Germany that has been created from the year 1568 on. It is part of the city but feels a bit separated as it is below the city level. At the northern end you will find the Orangerie with a museum, the Marmorbad, a restaurant and a giant bowling green in front. There you can find different statues and three main axes: in the east the Hirschgraben, in the west the Küchengraben and in the middle an alley leading to the Aueteich with the Schwaneninsel with a neoclassical temple.

Continue reading “Karlsaue”

Orangerie

Orangerie, Karlsaue, Kassel

The orangery of Kassel, Germany was formerly only 400 meters away from the city palace. But this palace burned down in 1811 and only one tower remained that now hosts a popular beer garden in summer – the Rondell. Therefore the Orangerie is now the northern end of the Karlsaue garden. It was built from the year 1703 on in baroque style and was damaged massively by a British air raid in 1943.

Continue reading “Orangerie”

Ottoneum

Ottoneum, Kassel

The Ottoneum at Kassel, Germany was the first modern theatre building in Germany and houses today a natural history museum. It was built by the order of Moritz von Hessen-Kassel who named it after his favorite son Otto. It was erected between 1603 and 1606 following plans of architect Wilhelm Vernukken. From 1690 on the building was used for storing art collections and natural elements.

Continue reading “Ottoneum”

Balkenhol

St. Elisabeth, Kassel

The roman-catholic church Sankt Elisabeth next to the Friedrichsplatz of Kassel, Germany might draw your attention as within its tower a giant person seems to be standing on golden sphere. It is an artwork of Stephan Balkenhol and one that lead to a long discussion. Exactly in parallel to the dOCUMENTA (13) art exhibition in 2012 the church arranged on exhibition of the works of Balkenhol on their grounds.

Continue reading “Balkenhol”

Karlskirche

Karlskirche, Kassel

The Karlskirche named after Charles I, landgrave of Hesse-Kassel (but also called Oberneustädter Kirche) is a tiny, nice protestant church in the city centre of Kassel, Germany that is often overlooked. It is located at the Karlsplatz that is not directly at the pedestrian zone. It was designed by Paul du Ry in baroque style and opened in the year 1710 CE. The area was by that time used to host religious refugees from France and those were in need of a church.

Continue reading “Karlskirche”

Neue Galerie

Neue Galerie, Kassel

The Neue Galerie (‘New Gallery‘) is an important art museum at Kassel, Germany. It is located near the city centre and the Weinberg at the Schöne Aussicht – from there you have good views on the Karlsaue. Mostly paintings from the 19th century until today are shown. The building itself was created from 1871 on as the picture gallery which can today be found at the Schloß Wilhelmshöhe. Since the 1960s the building is also used as a temporary exhibition space for the documenta.

Continue reading “Neue Galerie”

Weinberg

Weinberg, Kassel

The city of Kassel, Germany is located within a basin – a situation that also influences the weather. Within this basin there are only a limited number of hills like the Kratzenberg, the Möncheberg and the Weinberg. The latter consists of shell limestone and in medieval times wine was grown there. On top you will find the Grimmwelt, the memorial for the victims of fascism and a nice terrace that is sometimes used for events like the Weinbergfest.

Continue reading “Weinberg”

Museum für Sepulkralkultur

Museum für Sepulkralkultur, Kassel

It’s a topic humans normal try not to think about: the death that awaits us all. At Kassel, Germany you can find the Museum für Sepulkralkultur that gives you a place to debate about this topic. It is a museum dedicated to death and the specific rites that exist around the world. You can see how in other times and other cultures people coped with the fact that life isn’t endless.

Continue reading “Museum für Sepulkralkultur”