The hill park of Wilhelmshöhe in Kassel is one of the most magnificent achievements of European garden art in existence. Even today, the gardening styles and tastes of several centuries remain visible and explorable, overlaying each other, merging and interacting to form an unforgettable whole. The guiding principle observed by all those who had a part in laying out the park over the years was the orchestration of the primeval power of water, realised in a terrain as challenging as it was inspiring – the steep slope west of the city. The work of centuries has resulted in a worldclass masterpiece of garden art, incorporating the Baroque and Romantic water displays as well as the Octagon building with the statue of Hercules, and the many and varied landscaped spaces. This booklet provides an overview of the history and development of Wilhelmshöhe Park, inviting you to discover a place of outstanding and intriguing beauty, and the numerous fine sceneries created by its garden artists over the years.