Kaufungen, municipality in Landkreis Kassel in Hesse, Germany
Kaufungen is a small town near Kassel in a valley beside the Losse river, with two connected village centers called Oberkaufungen and Niederkaufungen. The place is shaped by timber-frame houses with steep roofs, narrow lanes in the older sections, and monastery buildings including the large church and a small chapel.
The place was first mentioned in 1011 and served as an important royal court. In 1017, Emperor Henry II and his wife founded a Benedictine monastery on a hill above the settlement, which shaped community life for centuries. When the Reformation arrived in the early 1500s, the monastery was closed and lost its religious role.
The name comes from a medieval term meaning king's court, reflecting the place's historical importance as a gathering point for rulers. Today you can see two distinct parts: the upper village with narrow lanes and timber houses that show rural traditions, and the lower village as a modern community with different ways of living.
The place is easy to reach by car via the A7 highway, with parking available near the village center and main sights. A tram line connects it directly to Kassel, making a visit simple even without your own vehicle.
Empress Kunigunde, who lived here after her husband's death, is connected to a legend where she walked unharmed on red-hot plowshares. This story is still told in local tales and makes the place a setting for medieval miracle stories that visitors encounter during their visit.
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