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 .

Well I actually lived and worked in Kassel for almost ten years until I moved to a little town about 25km away. I still work there and spend a lot of my time there and it really isn't that bad a place to be. It's not the prettiest town in Germany, but not the ugliest and they're doing a lot to make the place better. True, the nightlife isn't what it was when I first came here and it's hard to find English people to meet up with, people in Kassel and the region aren't the friendliest I've met, it takes time until they open up towards you. But I lived in a tiny village in the east of Brandenburg before I came to Kassel and had a good time there too. It's not WHERE you live that makes a place good to be in, but HOW you make the best out of your situation.

Well, this is all a bit discouraging. I have lived in Kassel for 9 months, and I have to say, I can't disagree with much that has been said. I was hoping, though, that there were hidden English-speakers somewhere. But, to be fair, there are some beautiful parks and buildings here. The newer buildings are not attractive (very boxy and gray). The people I have met, though, have been very nice, and the German language here is very clear and understandable compared to other (even nearby) areas. Kassel isn't so bad. I just need to learn more German!

Hallo everybody! I'm planning to move to Kassel to live for some years. May be somebody knows some web-sites where i can find appartments for rent. Thanks in advance

Hi,

try these two companies
www.gwg-kassel.de
www.gwh.de

Gud luck.

Denimm - I don't live in Kassel (yet), but my boyfriend (who's been there over a year) was lurking on this thread and said to go through the newspaper HNA because GWG/GWH mostly rent out flats that are more '50s/'60s-style renovations.

"The better places are in my neighbourhood "Vorderer Westen" and it should not be any problem finding accommodationl. I am paying 4,50 EUR per square meter (which is appr. 1/3 of Munich's prices) without electricity, heat, waste."

use the newspaper - if you use an estate agent (machler) you will probabally have to pay. And dont commit to anything as verbal acceptances can be binding.

Vorderer Western, Goethestrasse and all round that area are nice and central.

Nice enough place but sleepier than the rest of Germany and English is not as commonly spoken (Russian is the second language from what I could see)

We lived there for about 4 years in all. Most of our friends have now left as well and are scattered around the globe

Good luck

OB

Hi Denimm,

You can check the newspaper adds online via: http://kassel.hna.markt.de/
Go to Immobilien: Mieten-Wohnungen (are the appartments for rent).
WG's are student houses.

Good luck,

Corry

hello,

i lived in kassel for 6 months with my boyfriend. its a pretty nice city. there are a few clubs to go to at night - but nothing overly exciting, a nice pool (as someone else mentioned) to relax at, and the herkulas monument is nearby. the people are pretty nice and helpful there.

may i ask how you got a job there, and in what field? im trying to return now and having the most difficult time finding anything. it is my dream to get back there and be with my boyfriend, but without a job it seems pretty hopeless. any response would be greatly appreciated!