At the very top of the park, the huge monument of Hercules is perched on top of the stone Oktogonbuilding, completed 300 years ago in 1717. There’s a platform for taking in the amazing views along the axis of the park down towards Kassel. The absolute highlight of the park is the amazing Wasserkünste, or ‘water features’, when a huge amount of water is released below the Hercules statue to cascade in stages down the waterfalls, over the Roman ruins, past the rapids and under the bridges of the Bergpark. The show ends 200 metres lower, beside the palace where the water gushes 50 metres high from the Grand Fountain. The stages are timed so that visitors can calmly amble down the paths to view the water from the ideal viewing point; the whole enterprise takes 90 minutes. Monthly in summer, this is held after dark, with the waterfalls wonderfully lit up and a festival down at the palace. It’s a steep walk so wear decent shoes, and bring a light at night. The tourist office organises guided walks of the events, and on show days extra trams and buses haul visitors up to Herkules, a 25-minute walk down from the statue.