Listen closely now. What began as the Frankfurter-Tor-Viertel is now known as S\u00fcdstadt. This vibrant part of Kassel has a story etched in its streets. The S\u00fcdstadt stands as one of Kassel’s 23 unique districts.
In S\u00fcdstadt, life unfolds across 3.58 square kilometers. Around 7,472 people called it home in 2020. That is a population density of 2087 residents per square kilometer. Selina Holtermann leads S\u00fcdstadt as the local mayor.
To the south, S\u00fcdstadt meets Niederzwehren near the railway line. To the west, it borders Wehlheiden. Mitte is to the north. The Fulda River marks its eastern edge.
A large part of the Karlsaue park lies within S\u00fcdstadt. This green space is a treasure for residents. During industrial growth, the area around Frankfurter Stra\u00dfe did not get many factories. Waggonfabrik der Gebr\u00fcder Cred\u00e9 and Bergh\u00f6fer near Kassel-Niederzwehren station were exceptions. Instead, S\u00fcdstadt grew as a residential area.
Along Frankfurter Stra\u00dfe, buildings stand close together. Here, you will find homes and shops side by side. There are also residential areas with houses for one or more families. The Auefeld is an example of this. S\u00fcdstadt includes several well-known areas.
Philosophenweg has been around since 1864. It got its name in 1874. East of Frankfurter Stra\u00dfe lies the “Beamtenviertel”. You might know it as the “Jugendstilviertel”. Construction started here around 1890. Frankfurter Stra\u00dfe is a busy street with homes and businesses. Auefeld has been around since 1956. The Beh\u00f6rden- und Gewerbezentrum S\u00fcd features Heckerwiesenstra\u00dfe.
Back in 1704, Landgrave Karl built a grand city gate outside Obere Neustadt. This gate carried an inscription. It declared the gate was for future generations.
In 1765, Landgrave Friedrich II made it easier to travel down Weinberg. He made the steep path more manageable. Later, Landgrave Wilhelm IX altered the Weinberger Tor. It became known as “Frankfurter Tor” in 1803. The street level was lowered again. This created a dip that you can still see today.
The Frankfurter Tor was fully removed by 1880. The area south and west of this gate became known as the “Frankfurter-Tor-Viertel” around 1900. This neighborhood grew with the construction of barracks.
The Standortlazarett hospital was built in 1885. The Husarenkaserne barracks followed in 1889. From 1863, Philosophenweg began to develop. Starting in 1889, shops and apartment buildings rose along Frankfurter Stra\u00dfe. These were for tradespeople and business owners.
By 1905, Frankfurter Stra\u00dfe had all sorts of businesses. Buildings with homes and shops reached Heinrich-Heine-Stra\u00dfe. In 1873, the Frankfurter Chaussee only had 32 house numbers.
By 1900, the “Beamtenviertel” reached Landaustra\u00dfe. The old Meierei farm buildings stood at Frankfurter Stra\u00dfe 73 to 77. The “Domaine Meierei” was soon to be replaced with new buildings. The “Krokodil” restaurant at Number 71 dates back to this early building phase. More barracks came later, including J\u00e4gerkaserne in 1907 and 1913.
During World War II, bombs damaged or destroyed many buildings in the district. On April 4, 1945, US troops entered the war-torn “Fortress Kassel” via Frankfurter Stra\u00dfe. The population dropped from 9,033 in 1939 to 3,300 by the war’s end. It took until the 1960s to recover. S\u00fcdstadt was more than just buildings.
The rebuilding of S\u00fcdstadt took place in the 1950s. New buildings often replaced older ones. “Gartenstadt Auefeld” provided housing for many families. The SPD got the district renamed to S\u00fcdstadt in 2003. Today, the vibrant S\u00fcdstadt continues to evolve. Its history is woven into its modern identity.