Hülsede Water Castle (German: Wasserschloss Hülsede) is a water castle in the Weser Renaissance style located in Hülsede in the German state of Lower Saxony between the Süntel and Deister ridges.

In 1310 the Count of Schaumburg enfeoffed the von Rottorp family with the court in Hülsede, which later became the ground floor of the subsequent manor house. The castle was built as a four-winged building between 1529-48 by (Clawes) Claus von Rottorp and further extended up to 1600.

In 1584 the male line of the von Rottorps died out. The son-in-law, Ernst von Reden, was not able to establish his claim against the counts of Schaumburg. As a result, the Count of Schaumburg enfeoffed the Bishop of Minden, Hermann von Mengersen, (seneschal (Drost) in Rodenberg and Sachsenhagen) who married Ilse v. d. Born) with the Hülsede estate.

In 1908 the fief became the freehold of the Mengersens. In 1970 Monika von Bronsart, née von Mengersen, became the owner. In 1979 restoration of the castle was begun.

Hülsede Water Castle

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Schaumburg Castle (German: Burg Schaumburg) is a castle in the town of Rinteln in the district of Schaumburg in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is owned by the former ruling family of Schaumburg-Lippe.

The castle became the property of the Hohenzollerns when George William, Prince of Schaumburg-Lippe sided with the Austrians in the 1866 Austro-Prussian War.

However, in 1907, Emperor Wilhelm II returned Schaumburg Castle to George, Prince of Schaumburg-Lippe on the occasion of his silver wedding anniversary. The gift was also meant to be in recognition of Georg's support in the dispute over the succession to the throne of Lippe-Detmold.

Schaumburg Castle (Lower Saxony)

Bückeburg Castle, for over 700 years in the family ownership of the Earls of Holstein-Schaumburg and later Prince of Schaumburg-Lippe, is a Renaissance castle with historical halls and rooms dating back to four centuries.

The large festival hall with its sumptuous rose-coloured decorations is impressive; the lavishly adorned castle chapel and Golden Hall contain masterpieces of the woodcutting craft.

Situated in the town centre of Bückeburg, the castle is an attraction far beyond the region. It is surrounded by extensive garden and park grounds covering more than 80 hectares.

The largest private mausoleum in the world is surrounded by its own park. The colourful splendour of the mosaics and a radiant gilded cupola are impressive. The path through the palace park leads past the excursion destination “Park Café”.

An important component of the castle complex is the Fürstliche Hofreitschule (Princely Court Riding School). The 400-year-old stables accommodated noble stallions of Baroque breeds; in the historical riding hall the visitor can experience first-class horsemanship of different epochs.

For the Weihnachtszauber (Christmas Magic) and Landpartie (Country Outing) events, exclusive exhibitors transform the park and castle into an especially entertaining atmosphere.

Concerts, exhibitions and conferences round off the calendar of events at the castle. Many rooms can also be rented for private occasions such as celebrations or conferences.

Marriages can be celebrated in the appealing atmosphere of the Baroque music hall; the old castle chapel can also be used by bridal couples of all Christian religious affiliations for church wedding ceremonies. The Cafe/Restaurant Alte Schlossküche (Old Castle Kitchen) and a large museum invite you to browse and snack.

Bückeburg Palace

The former Jagdschloss Baum (Baum Hunting Lodge) is a small Schloss near Bückeburg along the road to Lahde in the Schaumburg Forest.

Jagdschloss Baum was built between 1760 and 1761 by Count Wilhelm zu Schaumburg Lippe and is considered a prime example of late Baroque Classicism. An English landscape garden with a small pond adjoins the lodge. Just beyond the pond is a grotto flanked by two portals. These early Baroque portals were installed in 1758 and were probably created between 1604 and 1606 for the Bückeburg Palace's first-floor great hall.

In 1776, Wilhelm zu Schaumburg Lippe built a step pyramid family mausoleum in the park near the lodge. Its entrance consists of an eastern-facing portico portal. Originally, ornamental plants were placed along the pyramid's stepped sides. The mausoleum was situated initially in a hedge garden which was later converted into a wooded park with alleyways.

The lodge owes its name to a tollgate (Schlagbaum) located not far from the border of the small Fürstentum (principality) where the toll was collected.

Today, the hunting lodge serves as the conference and recreation center for the Landeskirche Schaumburg-Lippe's Protestant youth group, Evangelische Jugend, as well as an educational center offering seminars, lectures, and holiday and weekend programs. A dining hall, common room, kitchen, and dormitories in the lodge's upper story are used to accommodate the various functions. An adjacent building, constructed after the hunting lodge, provides additional lodging for up to 40 guests.

Baum Hunting Lodge

Lauenstein Castle (German: Burg Lauenstein) is a former hill castle that is now in ruins. It lies above the Salzhemmendorf village of Lauenstein in the German state of Lower Saxony. The castle was built in the 13th century by the barons of Homburg. From the 16th century it became militarily insignificant and was demolished in the 19th century due to its increasing state of dilapidation.

The ruins of Lauenstein castle are located on the edge of Ith ridge on a hill summit above the village of Lauenstein. The castle terrain is covered by thick forest that was planted in the 19th century when the hill was reutilised.

The roughly 50 x 50 metre castle plateau lies on an eminence that is surrounded by steep hillsides. It is protected on all sides by a wide moat. The direct access to the castle was built in the form of a zwinger in front of the gateway whose walls are still 4 metres high today. Parts of the enceinte of the castle still exists. There is an information board at the entrance to the castle site, although there is a risk of collapse or falling due to the state of the ruined walls and the steep hillsides.

Lauenstein Castle was first recorded in 1247 having been built by the barons of Homburg at the beginning of the 13th century after their existing castle of Spiegelberg, not far away, had been destroyed in 1226. In 1247 Heinrich von Homburg transferred the castle to the Welf duke, Otto the Child. At the same time he received it back as a fief. Thereafter inhabitants of abandoned villages settled in the surrounding area under the protection of the castle and founded the village of Lauenstein, first mentioned in 1430. The Homburg Amt of Lauenstein had its seat in the castle. In 1359 it encompassed 40 villages in the region between the Ith and Hils ridges and the Leine river.

When the male line of the Homburgs died out in 1409 the castle and all its chattels were transferred to the Welf dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg. As a result of financial difficulties, they enfeoffed the castle in 1433 to Bishop Magnus of the Bishopric of Hildesheim, who sublet it to:

1434 The von Cramm brothers
1445 Ludolf von Ruscheplate
1456 The Böcke brothers of Nordholz
1495 Bartold von Oberg and the knightly brothers of the Rutenberge
1497 Heinrich von Saldern
1515 Burchard von Saldern

When in 1515 Burchard von Saldern and his two brothers took over the castle and Amt of Lauenstein from their father, Heinrich, the Hildesheim bishop terminated the contract. The brothers refused to give up the castle and Amt. In addition, they demanded 3,000 guilders, to repay what they had invested in fortifications. After lengthy negotiations an arbitral decision was reached in 1518. The bishop was to pay the von Salderns the construction costs, but the von Salderns had to leave the castle and Amt of Lauenstein. Because Burchard refused to accept the money offered, he was driven from Lauenstein Castle in 1518. In his place, Stacius von Münchhausen was appointed as the Hildesheim advocate at the castle. After a failed attack on the castle, Burchard von Saldern burned Lauenstein down in revenge and nailed a notice of feud to the castle gate with the words: "Borchert von Salder do bekand; dat ick hebbe jedan dußen Brand; dat bekenne ick mit meiner Hand." ("Burchard von Saldern makes known that I lit this fire; I confess this with my own hand").

This action fuelled the fighting during the Hildesheim Diocesan Feud. The dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg captured the castle back in 1521 and reinstated Burchard von Saldern to the Amt. However, his son, Heinrich, fell out with the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg in 1587 and was forced out. After that the castle was managed by bailiffs (Amtmännern).

In 1635, during the Thirty Years' War, the village of Lauenstein was invaded by imperial troops under Tilly and suffered much damage. They remained as occupation troops for four years. In 1637 Swedish troops followed. In 1640 Lauenstein fell victim to soldiers from Weimar, who plundered the place. In 1806 the village was used as billets for Napoleonic troops. The castle had had no military significances since the Thirty Years' War and had fallen into disrepair. When Lauenstein was completely razed in 1730 by a house fire, stone from the castle was used to rebuild it. The terrain of the outer ward, known as the Knabenburg, was bought in 1737 by the Amtmann, Niemeyer, who farmed it until 1850. At the beginning of the 19th centyr the last remnants of the castle were demolished and the castle well filled in. In the mid-19th century a small observation tower was built on the highest point of the castle hill - it has since fallen into disrepair. A chapel-like building was also built on the hilltop.

Lauenstein Castle (Ith)

Wilhelmstein is an artificial island in lake Steinhuder Meer with an area of 12,500 square meters, located in the Hanover Region, Northern Germany. The island was created in the 18th century as a fortification by Count William of Schaumburg-Lippe, ruler of this small German state. Since then the island hosts the Festung Wilhelmstein, the Wilhelmstein Fortress. Today the island, close to Hagenburg, is a popular destination for tourists. It can be reached by so called 'emigrants boats' from Steinhude and Mardorf.