Kassel: Forests, Hiking Trails and Fairytale Places

Forest Landscapes with Distinctive Character

In Habichtswald Nature Park, large stands of beech forest and numerous volcanic basalt hills shape the landscape. Habichtswald Nature Park is considered a destination for nature lovers, hikers, winter sports enthusiasts and anyone seeking relaxation. In Reinhardswald Nature Park, different landscape features sit side by side: centuries-old pollarded oaks, extensive beech and spruce forests, river valleys and natural streams. There are also calcareous grasslands with juniper and orchids. If you enjoy spending time outdoors, you will find a variety of natural settings to help you plan each day of your stay.

In Geo-Nature Park Frau-Holle-Land, deep forests alternate with meadows and fields. Colourful mountain meadows and trout streams add to the scenery. Over the past few years, 24 premium hiking trails have been established there. There are also opportunities for sailing and hang gliding, water sports, winter sports, cycling, horseback riding and fishing. The range extends from walks through the countryside to other active pursuits. When choosing a holiday apartment, you can consider which kinds of excursions are of particular interest to you during your trip.

Hiking and Traces of the Past

There are several ways to explore the landscape in the district of Kassel. The “Hör‘ mal!” audio tours include 15 tours along set routes with stops and viewpoints. They offer a predetermined sequence of places, while the Eco Paths can be explored independently at any time of day and have no opening hours. In Reinhardswald and Habichtswald, Eco Paths offer opportunities to follow historical trails. In the district, they also invite visitors to see archaeological sites and discover castles and palaces. At Dörnberg, there is the Dörnberg Archaeology Eco Path. You can choose whether you would rather follow an audio tour or explore historical topics on an Eco Path.

Fairytale Places and Sababurg Zoo

The German Fairy Tale Route runs through the district of Kassel and leads, among other places, to Sababurg Castle, the Sleeping Beauty Castle, and Trendelburg Castle with its Rapunzel Tower. Trendelburg Castle has a 38-metre-high keep and is surrounded by a moat and castle walls. Along the German Fairy Tale Route, you can also experience fairytales at open-air theatres, as puppet shows or in a museum steeped in history. This gives you a choice of different cultural interests for your trip, from historic buildings to theatre, puppet shows and museum visits.

Sababurg Zoo covers 130 hectares and is home to 80 animal species and more than 900 animals. It is open every day throughout the year. The zoo museum offers insights into the zoo’s history and daily life, as well as the animal species found there. A visit can therefore also include learning about the zoo itself and its animals. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Kassel, you can take nature and cultural attractions into account when planning, as well as the zoo.

You can visit the other places on this page using the following selection: Calden, Habichtswald, Oberweser, Haunetal, Niestetal, Bad Emstal, Vellmar, Reinhardshagen, Fuldatal, Söhrewald, Nieste, Immenhausen, Grebenstein, Liebenau, Ahnatal, Fuldabrück, Kaufungen, Zierenberg, Wolfhagen, Trendelburg, Naumburg/ Hessen, Lohfelden, Kassel, Bad Karlshafen, Hofgeismar, Espenau, Breuna, Baunatal, Schauenburg, Brasselsberg and Helsa.

For the higher-level travel overview: Hesse.