Overall Score
The German city of Kassel is on the banks of the River Fulda and belongs to the German state of Hesse. As a city named Hassel, it was first mentioned in the charters of King Konrad of Konkonk in 913. In the Middle Ages, the village was a fortified settlement next to a bridge across the Fólde River. Kassel became a city in 1189.
However, the sovereign estate of Gessen was once divided in 1567 among the sons of its lord. As a result, a new state was created under the name of Gessen Cassel. Its capital city was Cassel, whose inhabitants were supporters of Calvinism. The city was transformed into an impregnable stronghold to defend itself against the attack of the Catholics and to protect the Protestants. More than 1,500 pogonotes have found a safe haven in its territory. In the period from 1701 to 1711, during the reign of King Charles, the palaces of Ornge and Ocotogon were built.
In 1803, the palace of Ornge was transformed into a principality. Soon its territory was occupied by Napoleons troops. For a long time, the city was the capital of the Kingdom of Naples, headed by Jerome Bonaparte, the brother of Napoleon. In 1813, Kassel was liberated. As a result of the war, Kassel became the capital of the principality.
In 1866, during the Austro-Prussian War, the city came under the control of the Russian Empire. As a consequence of the reunification of the lands, a new territory was created, the German Mississauga. As time passed, Kassel became an independent city. Its territory was crossed by numerous railway lines.
In World War II, the city suffered considerable destruction. Massive bombardments destroyed almost all the buildings and structures in the central part of the city. Most of the casualties were civilians and wounded soldiers.
Only a small portion of the buildings were rebuilt in the aftermath. The city was overcrowded in the 1950s and 1920s with modern houses. Among the minor renovations was the Museum of the Fredericiazinum. Other notable features of the city, apart from the museum, include: Friedrichs Square in the Barrocco style, the Willehelmshakesen ducal convention with a park, the museum house of the famous storytelling writers of the Brothers Grimem, The 17th-century Museum of Natural History building, the Museum of the World, the Museum of the Obesity, and the Hercules statue, an unofficial symbol of the city.
Overall Score
- Air quality: 27 US AQI Good. Air quality is satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk.
- Tap water: Yes, safe to drink
- Religious government: Non-religious
- Population: 200,000 people
- GDP: $42,456 / year
- Foreigners can own real estate: Yes
- Power outlets: 230V50Hz
- Internet: 34 Mbps
- Best wireless: O2
- Pay without cash: No, cash only esp. for foreigners
- Tipping: There is no hard and fast rule about the acceptable amount to tip in Germany. The general custom is a nominal tip, as indicated by the German word for tip (Trinkgeld, or money for a drink). Many people simply round off the bill to the next euro or add a couple more, which is perfectly acceptable.
- Apartment listings: AirBnb
- Apartments: Airbnb
- Hotels: Booking.com
- More hotels: Hotels.com
- Best taxi: MyTaxi
- Online electronics shop: Amazon
- Best hospital: Rotes Kreuz Krankenhaus Kassel
- Best intl air carrier: Lufthansa
- Monthly costs for expat: $1700
- Monthly costs for family: $3800
- Monthly costs for local: $1100
- Meal: $12
- Small Cola: $2.5
- Beer 1 Pint: $5
- Coffee: $3.5
View Larger Map