Top 20 Castles around Apelern

The size of this castle surprised me. Viewing only with a completed tax return and correct tax number 😉

Stadthagen Castle, belonging to the then-ruling counts and later princely house of Schaumburg-Lippe, was built between 1535 and 1539 by Count Adolf XI in Stadthagen on the site of a predecessor structure. This was a moated castle built in 1224 by Count Adolf III of Schaumburg in a clearing in the Dülwald forest. First documented in 1244, the castle must have been part of the town's founding from the very beginning, as its two streets were aligned with it. Extensive construction work is documented for the period around 1300. In 1304, a "house" is mentioned in the castle. In 1406, three castle guards are mentioned. The 15th-century gatehouse was later incorporated into the west wing of the castle. The new castle building, beginning in 1535, was planned and built by master builder Jörg Unkair, who came from Lustnau near Tübingen and had previously worked at the Cistercian monastery of Bebenhausen. He himself selected Obernkirchen sandstone from the Bückeberg near Obernkirchen. The residential palace was designed as a spacious, square, four-winged complex, with its northwest corner open to the town. The dormer windows and wing gables – Italian gables – resemble those of the Schelenburg near Osnabrück, which Unkair had previously built. However, since in Stadthagen, unlike at Schelenburg, he did not have to consider the medieval castle remains, the palace appears welcoming both internally and externally. It was built purely as a residential palace, without any military functions. After its completion in 1539, the Schaumburg state government moved in the following year; the tax and finance authorities also had their headquarters here. In 1608, the government and residence of the Schaumburg counts were relocated to Bückeburg. Later, the palace served as a widow's residence and the residence of the Crown Prince. A comprehensive restoration took place in 1875. After the First World War, the castle became the property of the newly founded Free State of Schaumburg-Lippe in 1919, and of the state of Lower Saxony since 1946. The castle is considered the oldest and most influential Weser Renaissance monument in Lower Saxony. Source: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schloss_Stadthagen

Very nice to go for a walk. Cafe Lusthaus in the immediate vicinity

The fireplace hall is used as an event location. Today the tax office is in here. A visit is therefore not possible.

The moated castle shell de, near Hanover, located in the valley between Deister and Süntel, was built between 1529 and 1548 as a four-winged complex. It is a typical example of an early Renaissance building in the Weser area. The outstanding art-historical value of the castle lies in the original structure of the 16th century. The moated castle and the courtyard buildings are listed buildings and have been extensively restored over the past thirty years. The entire facility and the associated agriculture have been family-owned for over 400 years. Source: https://schloss-huelsede.de/das-schloss/

The castle is private, but you can visit some parts of the courtyard and take some pictures. At the entrance you will find a nice information table.

The laying of the foundation stone for the moated castle Hülsede took place in the early 16th century. With its four-leaf structure, it is a typical example of Weser Renaissance palaces. Today, the picturesque castle can be rented for events or weddings. A part of the castle courtyard can be visited independently. More information: https://schloss-huelsede.de/

Stadthagen Castle of the then reigning Counts and later Princes of Schaumburg-Lippe was built in the years 1535-1539 by Count Adolf XI. erected in Stadthagen on the site of a previous plant. It was a moated castle built in 1224, which Count Adolf III. built by Schaumburg in a clearing in the Dülwald. The castle, which was first attested in 1244, must have been part of the founding of the city from the beginning, as both of its streets are based on it. For the period around 1300 extensive building activities are attested. 1304 a "house" on the castle is mentioned. 1406 three Burgmannen are mentioned. The 15th-century gatehouse was later incorporated into the west wing of the castle. The new construction of the castle from 1535 was planned and built by master builder Jörg Unkair, who came from Lustnau near Tübingen and had previously worked at the Cistercian monastery in Bebenhausen. He chose the Obernkirchen sandstone himself in the Bückeberg near Obernkirchen. The residential palace was designed as a spacious, square four-wing complex, the north-west corner of which remained open to the city. The dwellings and winged gables - Welsche Giebel - are similar to those of the Schelenburg near Osnabrück, which Unkair had previously built. However, since in Stadthagen, unlike the Schelenburg, he did not need to consider the remains of the castle from the Middle Ages, the castle not only looks friendly on the inside, but also on the outside. It was built purely as a residential palace without military duties. After completion in 1539, the government of the state of Schaumburg moved in the following year; the tax and financial authorities also had their headquarters here. In 1608, the government and residence of the Counts of Schaumburg was relocated to Bückeburg. The castle later served as a widow's residence and the residence of the hereditary prince. A comprehensive restoration took place in 1875. After the First World War, the castle became the property of the newly founded Free State of Schaumburg-Lippe in 1919, and since 1946 it has belonged to the state of Lower Saxony. The castle is considered the oldest and most influential monument of the Weser Renaissance in Lower Saxony. Source: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schloss_Stadthagen