Hercules monument, Kassel, Monument in Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe, Kassel, Germany
The Hercules monument in Kassel is a landmark structure in Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe with a copper statue placed on an octagonal foundation and a pyramid base below. The entire complex is organized into several levels connected by stairs and platforms.
Landgrave Karl von Hessen-Kassel commissioned the construction between 1701 and 1717 to create a symbol of enlightenment and the ancient world. The work lasted over a decade and a half and permanently changed the silhouette of the hill.
The name links the Greek hero with princely authority, while the figure emerges from the obelisk and faces north, watching over the city below. Visitors today see how the structure crowns the park from above and serves as a landmark during any walk through the slopes.
The climb to the structure follows paths and stairs through the park, with the final stretch becoming fairly steep. Anyone wishing to experience the monument in connection with the water features should plan a visit between May and October.
The figure is a copy of the ancient Farnese Hercules from Rome, though here the replica plays a central role in the garden design. The locally quarried tuff stone used in the structure weathers slowly and requires regular intervention to protect the material.
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