Germany > Lower Saxony > Wilhelmstein Island on Lake Steinhude
Wilhelmstein Island on Lake Steinhude
N 52°27.608', E 9°18.457'
2023-09-24
Our rating: 6.80
Overall rating: - Rate this place - 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
In the middle of Lake Steinhude, there is a small artificial island built by Count Wilhelm Schaumburg-Lippe in 1761. It is a square with a side of 120 metres. On the island there is a fortification, now it is quite small, but at the end of the 18th century the whole island was a fortress, built in a typical for that time star-shaped bastion system. It is not clear how a fortress on an island in the middle of a huge lake was supposed to defend a small county of 17,000 people on the mainland. Rather, it was a shelter where the count could take refuge during an attack.
Wilhelmstein Island on Lake Steinhude (1787) ©@
To build the island, the people of the county brought 30 cubic metres of sand, gravel and stone every day for 5 consecutive years. In summer by boat and in winter by sledge. In case of war, it could accommodate 800 soldiers and 166 cannons. Though it's hard for me to imagine how they could fit here. There was also a regular garrison of 250 men, which was constantly decreasing due to austerity and amounted to only 22 men in 1782. There always had to be a considerable supply of food on the island, not only because of the danger of war, but also because in winter and spring the island could be cut off from the mainland, in the weeks when the ice had not yet hardened. After the construction was completed, the Count organised a military school with free tuition in addition to the fortress. After Count Wilhelm died in 1777 and the military school moved to Bückeburg in 1787, the fortress island lost its importance and became a prison. It was thought that because of the location, escape from here was impossible, though it is still not Alcatraz, but a calm lake. A few cases of escape over the ice have occurred. Tourist visits to the island began as soon as construction was completed, although at first it was only nobles. The tourist flow increased considerably after the closure of the prison in 1867, especially since Lake Steinhude had already become a large holiday resort. Nevertheless, the island survived one major siege. In 1787, the Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel laid claim to the county of Schaumburg-Lippe and occupied it. About 150 people took refuge in the fortress and 2800 Hesse soldiers could not take it. Later the Kingdom of Hanover came to the rescue and Hesse retreated.
Wilhelmstein Island on Lake Steinhude ©Yurii Buriak
The fortress still belongs to the house of Schaumburg-Lippe, there is a museum inside and a tourist renovation was carried out between 2005 and 2009.
Wilhelmstein Island on Lake Steinhude ©Yurii Buriak
You can get to the island by pleasure boats or small open yachts from Steinhude and Mardorf, find here the timetables and ticket prices . We travelled from Steinhude on the first boat at 10am.
Steinhude Resort ©Yurii Buriak
Steinhude Resort ©Yurii Buriak
Steinhude Resort ©Yurii Buriak
Keep in mind that the island is small, there's not much to do besides walk around, visit the museum and climb the tower.
Wilhelmstein Island on Lake Steinhude ©Yurii Buriak
Wilhelmstein Island on Lake Steinhude ©Yurii Buriak
Wilhelmstein Island on Lake Steinhude ©Yurii Buriak
Wilhelmstein Island on Lake Steinhude ©Yurii Buriak
Wilhelmstein Island on Lake Steinhude ©Yurii Buriak
Wilhelmstein Island on Lake Steinhude ©Yurii Buriak
Wilhelmstein Island on Lake Steinhude ©Yurii Buriak
However, we didn't plan to visit the museum, instead we organised a picnic. There is a restaurant on the island that even offers picnic kits (https://inselresort-wilhelmstein.de/picknick ), but we brought our own food. There are tables like this.
Wilhelmstein Island on Lake Steinhude ©Yurii Buriak
We had a picnic mat and sat on the grass near the water. This island is very suitable for the picnic in good weather, we recommend it.
Wilhelmstein Island on Lake Steinhude ©Yurii Buriak
Tags, Germany: island , lake Tags, all countries: island , lake
- Rate this place -
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - Can be reached only by car 4 - A small town with a poor public transport 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - - 2 - - 3 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 4 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 5 - Interfere with foreign objects 6 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 7 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 8 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 9 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 10 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help
Our rating - 6.80
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - Can be reached only by car 4 - A small town with a poor public transport 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - - 2 - - 3 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 4 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 5 - Interfere with foreign objects 6 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 7 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 8 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 9 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 10 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help
Visitor's rating - 0.00
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - Can be reached only by car 4 - A small town with a poor public transport 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - - 2 - - 3 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 4 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 5 - Interfere with foreign objects 6 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 7 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 8 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 9 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 10 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help