Germany (Lonely Planet, 6th Edition) - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [483]
The 23 rooms of the Weissensteinflügel ( 316 800; adult/student €4/2; tours hourly 10am-4pm Tue-Sun, to 3pm Nov-Feb), which dates from 1790, are filled with original furnishings and paintings.
To reach Schloss Wilhelmshöhe, you can either walk down from Herkules or, from the city, take tram 1 to the Wilhelmshöhe terminus. From there it’s a short walk, or you can take bus 23 for one stop.
Schloss Löwenburg
Modelled on a medieval Scottish castle, tours of the ‘Lions’ Castle’ ( 316 800; adult/student €4/2; tours hourly 10am-4pm Tue-Sun, to 3pm Nov-Feb) take in the Rüstkammer (Museum of Armaments) and Ritterzeitsmuseum (Museum of Chivalry). Situated less than 1km southwest (across the park) from Schloss Wilhelmshöhe, it is served by bus 23.
Fountains
Thanks to a 12km network of surface and subterranean channels, Wilhelmshöhe’s gravity-powered, one-hour Wasserspiele (fountain show; admission free) takes place every Wednesday, Sunday and public holiday from May to 3 October. The water begins its tumble at 2.30pm from up top, near Herkules. From there you can walk down via the Teufelsbrücke (Devil’s Bridge; 3.10pm) and the Aquädukt (3.20pm) to the Grosse Fontäne (Large Fountain; 3.30pm) to watch the water emerge in a 50m-high jet.
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Sleeping
The tourist office books private rooms from around €25.
DJH hostel ( 776 455; www.jugendherberge.de; Schenkendorfstrasse 18; dm/s €21.20/31.20; ) Has a leafy location, games in the basement and 209 beds, most with hall bathrooms. Situated about 1km west of Kassel Hauptbahnhof, or take tram 4 or 8 to Querallee.
Hotel Garni Kö 78 ( 716 14; www.koe78.de; Kölnische Strasse 78; s €34-48, d €69-78) Built in the 1890s, this clean, friendly place has a peaceful back garden and 24 rooms with practical furnishings. Situated about 500m west of Kassel Hauptbahnhof; from Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe take bus 52.
Hotel Domus ( 703 330; www.markhoteldomus.de; Erzbergerstrasse 1-5; s €49-99, d €59-109; ) Beyond the Jugendstil foyer – with domed atrium, bar and billiard table – are 56 bright rooms with period-inspired furniture. Prices are without breakfast but do include an evening buffet dinner from Monday to Thursday. Situated one block northeast of Kassel Hauptbahnhof. There are two other hotels on the same block.
Arosa Hotel ( 7662 0590; www.arosa-hotel-kassel.de, in German; Wilhelmshöher Allee 38; s/d €90/125) Opened in 2009, this place has a marble-floored lift and 27 rooms with large windows and curvaceous, wooden furniture. Situated 1.2km southwest of Kassel Hauptbahnhof; served by trams 1 and 3.
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Eating & Drinking
The free monthly Frizz (www.frizz-kassel.de, in German) has listings.
Lohmann ( 701 6875; www.lohmann-kassel.de, in German; Königstor 8; mains €5.50-15.70; 11am-midnight or 1am Sun-Fri, from 4pm Sat) With roots that go back to 1888, this family-run Kneipe (pub) has an old-style birch- and maple-shaded beer garden with an outdoor grill. A great place for veal schnitzel and locally brewed Kasseler Premium Pils. Situated five blocks southwest of Kassel Hauptbahnhof.
Bolero ( 766 2242; www.bolerobar.de; Schöne Aussicht 1a; mains €7.90-22.90; 10am-midnight Mon-Fri, 9am-1am Sat & Sun) A sleek, modern restaurant and bar serving pasta, meat and ‘world food’ – and lots of cocktails. Draws a trendy, upscale crowd. Situated behind the Neue Galerie.
Cafe-Bar Suspekt ( 104 522; Fünffensterstrasse 14; 6pm-1am Tue-Thu, 1pm-2am Fri & Sat, 1pm-1am Sun) This hetero-friendly gay bar, painted in primary colours, has hip marble tables and mellow music. Situated five blocks south of Kassel Hauptbahnhof, at the southwestern edge of the pedestrian zone.
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Getting There &