Discover Kassel: Castles, Fairy Tales and Nature

Castles, the Fairy Tale Route and the Wildlife Park

The German Fairy Tale Route runs through the Kassel district and leads, among other places, to Sababurg Castle, said to be the castle of Sleeping Beauty, and Trendelburg Castle with its Rapunzel Tower. Trendelburg Castle has a 38-metre-high keep and is surrounded by a moat and a castle wall. Along the German Fairy Tale Route, you can also experience fairy tales at open-air theatres, as puppet shows or in a museum steeped in history. The cultural offerings thus range from striking castle complexes to different ways of bringing fairy tales to life.

Sababurg Wildlife Park covers 130 hectares and is home to 80 animal species and more than 900 animals. It is open daily throughout the year; check the opening hours before your visit. The wildlife park museum offers insights into the park’s history and daily life, as well as the animal species found there. This combines wildlife watching with a look at the park’s history and animal life. The stated area and animal figures may change during operations.

Nature Parks with Varied Landscapes

Large stands of beech forest and numerous volcanic basalt hills shape the landscape of Habichtswald Nature Park. It is a destination for nature lovers, hikers, winter sports enthusiasts and anyone seeking relaxation. In Reinhardswald Nature Park, centuries-old pollarded oaks alternate with extensive beech and spruce forests, river valleys and natural stream landscapes. There are also calcareous grasslands with juniper and orchids. The park also offers landscape excursions as part of its “Nature Experiences” programme.

In Geo-Nature Park Frau-Holle-Land, deep forests alternate with meadows and fields; there are also colourful mountain meadows and trout streams. Over the past few years, 24 premium trails have been created there. The landscape profiles are quite distinct: beech trees and volcanic hills are central to Habichtswald, while forests, river valleys and stream landscapes define Reinhardswald. Frau-Holle-Land also includes meadows and open areas.

Trails, Audio Tours and Trip Planning

The Eco Paths in Reinhardswald and Habichtswald let you follow historical traces through the landscape of the Kassel district. Along them, you can visit a variety of historically significant archaeological sites and discover castles and palaces. There is also the Dörnberg Archaeology Eco Path on Dörnberg. The Eco Paths have no opening hours and can be explored independently at any time of day. Conditions on individual trails may vary; check them before planning a specific outing.

The “Hör‘ mal!” programme includes 15 audio tours for exploring the Kassel district. The tours follow set routes with stops and viewpoints. When planning, this can help you decide whether you would rather follow a designated route or explore historical sites and landscapes on an Eco Path. The Eco Paths are not restricted by opening hours, while set routes and stops are the defining format of the audio tours.

Two different details are also useful for cycling trips: the Fulda Cycle Route R1 is designated as a tourist cycle route in the Kassel district. The Kassel-Edersee Cycle Route runs through the Kassel district and the Waldeck-Frankenberg district.

A Broader Look at Hesse

In Hesse, Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe covers 560 hectares; it is Europe’s largest hillside park and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2013. Its historic water features still operate as originally intended. This information adds a broader perspective on Hesse as a travel destination and should be distinguished from the landscape and cultural themes of the Kassel district.

Discover more destinations: Zierenberg, Kassel, Baunatal, Schauenburg, Brasselsberg, Helsa, Fuldabrück, Habichtswald, Bad Emstal.

Go to the overview of destinations: Hesse.