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)

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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

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

Schloss Pyrmont, sometimes called Pyrmont Castle, was a schloss and the summer residence of the counts of Spiegelberg and counts of Waldeck-Pyrmont in the present-day German town of Bad Pyrmont. The current building dates to the 18th century and houses a museum. The schloss is part of Pyrmont Fortress (Festung Pyrmont) which dates to the 16th century.

History

Fortress and Renaissance castle

Between 1526 and 1536, Count Frederick VI of Spiegelberg, overlord of the County of Pyrmont, built a fortress and schloss in valley of Pyrmont. He had experience in the construction of the fortress when he had reinforced Coppenbrügge Castle with walls and roundels. The fortress of Pyrmont was almost square in shape with a 40-metre-wide moat. The walls had casemates and a stone corner bastion, which echoes the Italian style of fortification. Access to the fortress was via a wooden bridge and later a drawbridge. Buildings were built inside the walls and, in the south-western area, the first schloss was built.

Following the completion of the castle in 1536, it was garrisoned by Count Frederick VI, who resided in neighbouring Lügde. Later the schloss became the side wing of a larger schloss, which his son, Philip, had built in 1557 in the Weser Renaissance style. According to tradition, this was a three-storey building with three wall dormers, similar to the Hämelschenburg. In addition, a tower was built for archiving documents. Philip died before the completion of the Renaissance schloss. The building was completed by the husband of his sister, Hermann Simon of Lippe. Afterwards the counts of Lippe and the counts of Gleichen resided at the schloss. In 1625, Count Hans Louis of Gleichen transferred the County of Pyrmont to the Count of Waldeck.

During the Thirty Years' War, the succession dispute between the Bishopric of Paderborn and the Counts of Waldeck revived. For the Bishopric, troops under General Pappenheim, besieged the Pyrmont fortress in 1629, and its 400-man garrison surrendered after ten months. In 1633, Swedish troops recaptured the fortress, which was reconquered in 1636 by the Imperial Army. After being taken again by the Swedes in 1646, the fortress was handed over to the Counts of Waldeck in 1649. The schloss suffered damage as a result of the sieges. Rebuilt in haste, it served as a summer residence for the counts of Waldeck, but it was also neglected in the period that followed and began to deteriorate.

When Count Anthony Ulrich of Waldeck-Pyrmont took over the regency of Waldeck and Pyrmont in 1706, master builder, Hermann Korb, built a new schloss in the Baroque style. The new building was erected between 1706 and 1710 on the basement and other parts of the earlier residence. As early as 1721, architect, Julius Ludwig Rothweil, extended the building. A commander's house, two cavalier houses and a magazine were built. The fortifications were overhauled. In addition, the Baroque gardens were redesigned. Further changes followed in 1765 under the direction of Franz Friedrich Rothweil. Between 1852 and 1855, several buildings were added and the schloss given its present appearance.

20th Century

During the Second World War, a hospital was established in the schloss, because Pyrmont was a hospital town. After the war, the British Red Cross remained in the castle until 1948. In 1956, the state of Lower Saxony acquired the fortress and castle from the princely family of Waldeck and Pyrmont. The first redevelopment took place from 1960 to 1962; another followed from 1978.

From 1984 to 1987, architect Karl-Heinz Lorey renovated and redesigned the schloss and fortifications for use by the then district folk high school and as a museum. The castle grounds are also used for various events.