Here at the Humboldtblick, have you ever stopped to consider the layers of history beneath your feet? Kassel started as a small settlement. It was called Chassella in the 10th century. Documents first mention it in 913.
Now, let’s turn our attention to the Humboldtblick. From this very spot, the city unfolds before you. Kassel grew quickly. It gained city rights within two centuries. Surviving monuments include the Brüderkirche and Martinskirche. The Druselturm and Zwehrenturm also date from this era. In 1567, Kassel became the capital of the Hesse landgraviate. The population was around 5000 then.
Imagine the 17th century. Protestant Kassel became a refuge. French Huegenots fled here. The Oberneustadt district grew around the Königsstrasse. Around 1700, Landgrave Karl I began work on the Bergpark. He was inspired by a Hercules statue in Rome. The Hercules statue was erected in 1717. The Schloss Orangerie and Karlsaue park were built around the same time. The city’s fortifications became outdated. They were leveled by 1767. This created space for expansion.
Consider the late 18th century. The Landgraves built Schloss Wilhelmshöhe castle. They opened Germany’s first theatre building. They also opened mainland Europe’s first dedicated museum. Their valuable art collections can still be admired.
Think about the Brothers Grimm. They lived in Kassel in the early 19th century. They collected and wrote most of their fairy tales here. In 1807, Napoleon annexed Kassel. The city then had 18000 people. He turned it into the Kingdom of Westphalia. It had Germany’s very first constitution and parliament.
Industrialization arrived in 1866. Kassel and Hessen were part of Prussia. The Henschel factory specialized in steam engines. It built 12000 of them. Elegant residential areas developed west of the center. Kassel soon had 100000 residents. Grand state buildings went up. Social housing was added from the 1920s. Healthcare and sports facilities were also added.
After the rise of the Nazis in the 1930s, Jews were removed from public life. Kassel became a manufacturing and railway town. It became the base for forced labor camps. It was a prime target for Allied bombing raids. Kassel was attacked severely on October 22, 1943. Twenty minutes of bombing destroyed the old city center. About 10000 people died. In April 1945, the American army captured Kassel. Heavy street battles caused even more destruction. By the war’s end in 1945, 70% of residential buildings were destroyed. Also, 65% of industrial sites were destroyed. Only 71000 inhabitants remained.
After World War II, city planners decided against reconstructing old Kassel. They wanted a modern, accessible city. The Altmarkt is now a ghastly traffic intersection. Kassel has unique early 1950s buildings. The pedestrianized Treppenstrasse is one example. Heavily damaged buildings were restored. These include the Museum Fridericianum and Orangerie.
Kassel was boosted by the new university. It opened in 1970. The Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe ICE station opened in 1991. It provided fast connections to other cities.
In 1955, Arnold Bode organized the first documenta festival. It displayed artworks considered ‘degenerate’ by the Nazis. It became the most important contemporary art festival. It was of major importance for Kassel’s development.
As you stand at the Humboldtblick, remember Kassel’s story. It is a story of destruction and resilience. It is a story of art and industry. It is a story of transformation. From this high point, you see not just a city but its enduring spirit.