Kassel Germany: Tracing the Footsteps of the Brothers Grimm

Kassel is home to one of the world's premier contemporary art exhibitions: Documenta. Held every five years, Documenta draws international artists and visitors alike. Kassel in Germany became an important center for folklore research during the early 19th Century, where the Brothers Grimm collected and wrote most of their fairy tales. Additionally, the Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel issued laws which granted Jewish citizens full civil liberties, with Kassel itself boasting both a rabbi and a synagogue as part of its Jewish community.

The Birthplace of Fairy Tales: The Brothers Grimm

In the city where the Brothers Grimm lived and wrote timeless classics such as Cinderella, Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood and Sleeping Beauty, where their classic stories originated, has recently opened a museum dedicated to them. Here, where visitors can gain an exclusive insight into their lives and work. This new museum replaces one that existed from 1959 to 2014 in the center of town and was designed based on a competition won by kada wittfeld architektur firm. A wide exterior stairway connects the upper levels, offering visitors unparalleled views of sculptural form from every angle, on the lower levels are interactive exhibits, allowing users to shout modern curse words and receive older versions in response.

Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm's 1812 collection of Children's and Household Tales provides another avenue of insight into the stories they told. In 2005, it was named a UNESCO World Heritage List property. During their academic studies at Marburg (1802-06), they began collecting folk tales in Kassel under the guidance of Clemens Brentano who opened them up to folk poetry; Friedrich Karl von Savigny co-founder of the historical school of jurisprudence taught them how to deal with written sources as sources. The Brothers Grimm amassed nearly 200 texts consisting of oral and written material over their long career, although most had already been lost by the middle of the 19th century.

Must-Visit Sites in Kassel

Kassel lies at the heart of Hessian Germany and is one of the main stops on Germany's 600 km Fairy Tale Road, featuring timeless classics written by folklorists and linguists Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm as Children's and Household Tales. Their legacy continues in Kassel, where many iconic landmarks and gardens still bear witness to their influence. Bergpark Wilhelmshohe on the west side of town features Romantic castle ruins and a Neoclassical palace with a gallery of Old Masters; plus, there's an 18th-century statue of Hercules that's become iconic of Wilhelmshohe cityscape. At GRIMM World, visitors will get a chance to view personal copies from their fairy tale collection, which was awarded UNESCO World Document Heritage status.

There are also plenty of places to explore in the city, such as the Druselturm, a medieval watchtower with spectacular views over its city center and breathtaking panoramas from its top. Climb it yourself or join one of their guided tours, including visiting its world-famous library. Discover the city's botanical garden on foot or with a bike rental, housing hundreds of different cacti as well as exotic plants like those found at the Aschrott Fountain. Step atop its unusual fountain that looks flat but was built headfirst into the ground, an artwork known as Aschrottbrunnen (Aschrott Fountain). Kassel is best visited during its summer months of June-August, when temperatures are ideal for outdoor activities and festivals. However, the city offers something worth seeing throughout the year and spring or fall visits can still prove worthwhile due to cooler temperatures.

A Journey Through Landmarks and Legends

Any resident or visitor of Kassel knows there are certain landmarks you need to see first-hand to appreciate, such as Bergpark Wilhelmshohe, a remarkable natural monument of waterfalls flowing into grottoes and pools, plus an elegant baroque garden featuring an incredible 250-meter path of water that doesn't require pumps to operate; you can follow it from Hercules statue all the way through Wilhelmshohe Palace until reaching Wilhelmshohe Lake; this water feature has even been called “the world's most magical fountain!” Kassel is home to another iconic landmark: documenta art exhibition, an international contemporary art fair that takes place every five years and known as “Museum of 100 Days.” Over its long history, documenta has drawn notable artists like Picasso and Kandinsky; with the next edition slated to take place in 2022.

Fritzlar is an enchanting town brimming with charming half-timbered buildings and prehistoric antiquities, making for a magical tour. You can explore what makes Fritzlar so remarkable on a guided walking tour or visit the Marriage House to gain more insight into Mother Hulda's two daughters; her hardworking stepdaughter earns gold while her lazy biological daughter comes home covered with black tar that never wears away. GRIMM WORLD is Kassel's newest major attraction dedicated to the work and influence of The Brothers Grimm, making their writings accessible through cutting-edge technology. As an interactive museum dedicated to them with cutting-edge displays of original writings and discoveries, this cutting-edge exhibition boasts its UNESCO designation and showcases their original notes and drawings as well, perfect for any fairy tale fan!

Immerse Yourself in Grimm's World: events and festivals

Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm spent 30 years collecting, revising, and creating a German dictionary. At GRIMM WELT Kassel, today's exhibit features copies of their Children's and Household Tales that have UNESCO World Heritage status and interactive presentations and themed rooms that depict their work. A talking mirror reveals which is the fairest while visitors can experience “Hansel & Gretel's Gingerbread House”, or enter Rapunzel's tower where she lived, allegedly. Kassel offers more than just fairy tale-themed attractions, its Wilhelmshohe Park is one of Europe's most stunning parks, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offering ideal surroundings for both romantic strolls or relaxing picnics.

Hessen's capital city also offers many other highlights, including Karlsaue Park's Orangery Palace (1701-11) which boasts one of Germany's most celebrated wallpaper collections and features baroque, rococo, and Rococo elements in its architecture. It was built as the residence for Landgrave of Hessen and his family. Renaissance Revival architecture makes the market hall on Konigsplatz a must-visit location, hosting the central weekly market on Thursday and Friday all day as well as on Saturday morning. Here, 70 traders source products from North Hesse, Thuringia and eastern Westphalia. Shoppers can buy everything from homemade jams and mustard to handcrafted pralines and chocolates at FALADA Market & Cafe-Restaurant FALADA; after which, visitors can indulge in a range of delectable delights for all the senses at its Cafe-Restaurant FALADA; in summer months enjoy this delectable spread in “Grimm's Garden.” Kassel can best be reached via train using either an InterCity Express (ICE) train from Frankfurt or other cities or local trains that run in and around Kassel. A KasselCard grants holders unlimited transport in and around Kassel including buses, trams, and trains as well as reduced entry to participating tours and attractions.

Museums and Exhibitions in Kassel

Kassel offers more than folklore: documenta art exhibition is an icon that showcases cutting-edge trends every year. Established by painter and academy professor Arnold Bode in 1955 to bring Germany back into dialogue with international art after National Socialism had faded. This event originally focused on abstract art limited to European artists before transitioning towards classical modernism movements such as Fauvism, Expressionism Cubism and New Objectivity. Kassel and documenta have an uneasy relationship: on one hand, documenta is an important event in its city and residents follow its preparation with keen interest.

Fridericianum, one of the best-known venues for documenta, dates back to 1779 and currently hosts various exhibitions and is well worth visiting simply to take in its magnificent architecture and grounds. Art enthusiasts should make time for both The New Gallery and Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen. The former houses a selection of paintings from the 19th and 20th centuries, while the latter exhibits contemporary works focusing on themes related to land, nature, and landscape. Don't miss visiting Ottoneum either; its collections feature both historical remnants from natural disasters and examples of how human civilizations responded to such destruction; while Technik-Museum Kassel offers fun ways of learning about technology and industry!