Life in Kassel

Hi guys,

I have got a job in Kassel and I will be going there in four months. Any tips regarding interesting things to do in the area, or interesting things to see would be great.

Thanks!
Christine

I've never lived there but I stopped off for a couple of hours once. I went on a bit of a raccoon hunt since I'd read that there was something crazy like 50 of them per square km. Didn't find any of course and the taxi driver I'd asked to be my tour guide just laughed at me and looked confused when I started talking about trying to find a Waschbär.

Here's an actual story from DW on them: Nazi Raccoons:

Well the language would be a big difference! The German spoken there is High German and is very clear for the listener (well, compared to someone speaking in a heavy Bavarian dialect).

There are lots of excellent art galleries, think there is a huge collection of Rembrants there and excellent modern art museums (Documenta next takes place in 2007 though). The trams are cute, it's handy for Frankfurts Hahn and Am Main (ICE train station). Wilhelmshöhe Palace is worth a look and sunbathing plus Biergartens can be found along the Fulda river - I'm not sure if you can take your own food like in Bavaria?

Kassel.de info in English

Hessen Therme - I used to go once a week. And yes, it's amazing how good their German is. Sounds very posh to me.

Has anyone actually lived in Kassel?

Only for three months, and that was twenty years ago.

I had to wait in Kassel railway station one night for a connection, I`ve never been back. And jolly glad about it too!

Wasn't the German Cannibal from Kassel? Watch out if your host offers you sausage.

As it happens I'm visiting (English) friends in Kassel next weekend. He works for WINGAS. They seem to have quite enjoyed their stay (they're leaving soon after 3 years there), and have quite a large circle of expat (international) friends, mostly through his work.

On previous visits, I've been to the very impressive Schloss Wilhelmshöhe which is up for UNESCO World Heritage Site status. This place is home to those Rembrandt piccies and lots of other goodies. Had "Kaffee und Kuchen" at the Orangerie too, which was very pleasant. I got the feeling I was in a town rather than a bustling city.

Cheap flights to the UK with Air Berlin from Paderborn, and ca. 80 Euros for the train to Munich. I never saw a racoon either, but residents are advised to keep bins tightly shut.

I only visited Kassel for a conference so can't comment on living there, but overall impression as a tourist: Ugly town - great example of how not to rebuild after being bombed. However, there are some lovely historical towns nearby. Goslar, Fritzlar, Bad Wildungen etc.

My advice would be to go there for a weekend and be a tourist - that way you'll view it through different eyes as to just arriving there, not knowing anything about the place, and possibly only seeing hurdles to jump over! So go have some fun if you can, it'll make things more exciting

Stay away from the brothers Grimm and do not answer any ads from someone who likes to eat people.

Well I live in Kassel and it's the social centre of all Germany.

Actually it's not.

It's very boring, and I can count the number of English speakers I know here on one paw.

I lived in Kassel for almost 5 and half years..Its a small and beautiful city...Its very clean indeed. Enjoyed my stay over there always.

I had to work for a couple of weeks last year , and found it very boring . There was a castle some where , which had half open towers ( it had actually been biult that way ) and the guide gave an excellent tour , and you do get a decent view from the Herkules statue ,but thats it . As for night life , forget it .Even the locals where i was working said that it was totally dead , which is certainly true .