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.

Wilhelmstein

Account

by category

Login

Name

by region

Title

Name in English

Landestrost Castle (German: Schloss Landestrost) is a castle in the Weser renaissance style that was built between 1573-84 in Neustadt am Rübenberge in the north German state of Lower Saxony. Integrated into fortifications, together with the town, it developed into an urban fortress typical of the 16th century. The castle was the representative residence and administrative headquarters of its master, Duke Eric II of Brunswick-Lüneburg. During the construction period from 1574 he renamed the town of Neustadt as Landestrost, something which was reverted after his death in 1584.

Landestrost Castle

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

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.