The Baroque town of Arolsen lies 40km/25mi west of Kassel in the Waldecker Land. Formerly the seat of the Princes of Waldeck and Pyrmont, it was from 1918 to 1929 the chief town of the Free State of Waldeck. Developed as a princely residence from the early 18th C. onwards, Arolsen has preserved the aspect and atmosphere of the Baroque period, even though the original plan was never completely carried out. The town now has a variety of industry (electrical appliances, woodworking, synthetic materials, tools).
Arolsen was the birthplace of the sculptor Christian Daniel Rauch (1777-1857) and the painter Wilhelm von Kaulbach (1804-74).
The Arolsen Town Church (1735-87; Protestant), a building in late Baroque and early neo-classical style designed by the court architect L. J. Rothweil. The altar has marble figures of Faith, Love and Hope by C. D. Rauch.
The southwestern district of Mengeringhausen in Arolsen has many old half-timbered buildings. Particularly notable are a 14th C. moated castle, the handsome Town Hall and the birthplace of the hymn-writer Philipp Nicolai (1556-1606).
In the Baroque Palais Schreiber (1717) in Arolsen is an exhibition illustrating, with the help of models, the building of the Baroque town under the direction of L. J. Rothweil. The palace has an imposing Great Hall.
In the eastern district of Wetterburg in Arolsen lies a lake created by the damming of the river Twiste, now a popular recreation area (bathing stations, water-skiing, windsurfing, rowing, sports grounds, endurance sport center).
Read More
Read Less
