Hesse

Hesse – the Hercules Monument in Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe

Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe in Kassel is one of the largest and most important hillside parks in Europe, crowned by the monumental Hercules statue, which stands atop an octagonal structure at the park's highest point. The complex was built from the late 17th and early 18th centuries onward, commissioned by the Landgraves of Hesse to demonstrate their power and princely status. The centerpiece of the park is its world-famous water features, in which water flows from the Octagon down through cascades, grottoes, and waterfalls to Wilhelmshöhe Palace below, powered entirely by the natural slope of the terrain, without any mechanical pumps. The Hercules statue itself is one of the largest monumental sculptures of its kind in Europe.

In 2013, UNESCO declared Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe a World Heritage Site, recognizing it as an outstanding testament to Baroque garden and hydraulic engineering that impressively combines the technical and artistic achievements of its era. The water displays still take place regularly today and draw visitors from around the world. The park is considered one of the finest examples of European landscape design and a central landmark of northern Hesse. With the 2031 commemorative 2-euro coin, Hesse honors this unique UNESCO World Heritage Site.