Kassel, Germany
| Kassel | |||
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Kassel Hercules at Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe, landmark of the city (UNESCO World Heritage)
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 Kassel
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| Coordinates: 51°19′N 9°30′E / 51.317°N 9.500°ECoordinates: 51°19′N 9°30′E / 51.317°N 9.500°E | |||
| Country | Germany | ||
| State | Hesse | ||
| Admin. region | Kassel | ||
| District | Urban district | ||
| Government | |||
| • Mayor | Bertram Hilgen (SPD) | ||
| Area | |||
| • City | 107 km2 (41 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 167 m (548 ft) | ||
| Population (2015-12-31) | |||
| • City | 197,984 | ||
| • Density | 1,900/km2 (4,800/sq mi) | ||
| • Metro | 450,000 | ||
| Time zone | CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2) | ||
| Postal codes | 34001–34134 | ||
| Dialling codes | 561 | ||
| Vehicle registration | KS | ||
| Website | www.stadt-kassel.de | ||
Kassel (German pronunciation: [ˈkasl̩]; spelled Cassel until 1928) is a city located on the Fulda River in northern Hesse, Germany. It is the administrative seat of the Regierungsbezirk Kassel and the Kreis of the same name and has 200,507 inhabitants in December 2015. The former capital of the state of Hesse-Kassel has many palaces and parks, including the Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Kassel is also known for the documenta exhibitions of contemporary art.
The city's name is derived from the ancient Castellum Cattorum, a castle of the Chatti, a German tribe that had lived in the area since Roman times.
Kassel was first mentioned in 913 AD, as the place where two deeds were signed by King Conrad I. The place was called Chasella and was a fortification at a bridge crossing the Fulda river. A deed from 1189 certifies that Cassel had city rights, but the date when they were granted is not known.
In 1567, the Landgraviate of Hesse, until then centered in Marburg, was divided among four sons, with Hesse-Kassel (or Hesse-Cassel) becoming one of its successor states. Kassel was its capital and became a centre of Calvinist Protestantism in Germany. Strong fortifications were built to protect the Protestant stronghold against Catholic enemies. Secret societies, such as Rosicrucianism flourished, with Christian Rosenkreutz’s work Fama Fraternitis first published in 1617. In 1685, Kassel became a refuge for 1,700 Huguenots who found shelter in the newly established borough of Oberneustadt. Landgrave Charles, who was responsible for this humanitarian act, also ordered the construction of the Oktagon and of the Orangerie. In the late 18th Century, Hesse-Kassel became infamous for selling mercenaries (Hessians) to the British crown to help suppress the American Revolution and to finance the construction of palaces and the Landgrave’s opulent lifestyle.
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