Wilhelmstein Island Fortress - Bueckeburg Castle - Hameln - Glassblowers Workshop

Route: Hanover - Wilhelmstein Island Fortress - Bueckeburg Castle - Hameln - Glassblowers Workshop - Hanover
Duration: 10 h
Firstly we will visit to the Wilhelmstein Island Fortress. Where after a unique ride across the lake an exciting fortress museum awaits you. Here you will get a picture of the garrison's life full of deprivation in the old casemates. Count William of Schaumburg- Lippe, who was an outstanding military commander, had this fort built on an artificial island in Lake Steinhude between 1761 and 1767. It was designed as a model fort with a military college and apartments for the count’s family. The building is an example of the fortification architecture of the baroque period. In the military-historical collection you can see Steinhude's pike, a model of a submarine looking like a pike, which is believed to be the first submarine in the world. From the tower you have a beautiful panoramic view over the entire Lake Steinhuder Meer. Next we will visit the Bückeburg Palace which has been in the possession of the family of the Counts of Holstein-Schaumburg, later the Princes of Schaumburg-Lippe, for over 700 years.  Particularly impressive is the Great Banqueting Hall; the lavishly ornamented Palace Chapel and the Golden Hall contain masterpieces of the art of woodcarving. There is the Mausoleum of the princely family, the biggest private mausoleum in the world, is surrounded by a park of its own. The mosaics and the shining gilded dome are strikingly colourful. One important feature of the palace complex is the Princely Riding School. The stables are more than 400 years old and accommodate noble stallions of baroque breeds; visitors can watch top-notch riding displays in the styles of various periods in the historic Riding School Hall.Next we will visit to Hameln , the pearl of the Weser Uplands and home to the enigmatic Pied Piper. The Pied Piper , the German name is Rattenfänger, first appeared in 1284, is the landmark of the town of Hameln and everywhere present in the city.  The historic city center of Hamelin is one of the most beautiful ones of entire Germany! There are so beautiful half-timbered houses, but houses built of stone as well - most of them are from the Renaissance era. Special attention should be paid to the Stiftsherrenhaus from 1558 with a huge number of figures upon the facade or the Leisthaus from 1585-1589 with beautiful embossments in Renaissance style. The Rattenfängerhaus (Pied Piper House) with Renaissance pediment and many decorations or the Hochzeitshaus (Wedding House) with a carillon playing several times a day are other interesting buildings. Furthermore, the relicts of the former city fortification as well as the last Weser Mill in imperial style from the 19th century. Many narrow alleyways are dominating the city center, and it's always a pleasure to take a walk here. Hameln will show to you peculiar architectural style of the 16th and early 17th century in which you will find various buildings along the river Weser and which have greatly characterized the “townscape” . Also you will see the famous houses in Hameln built in the Weser-Renaissance-style are the “Hochzeitshaus” (1610-17), the “Dempterhaus” (1607/08), the “Leisthaus” (1585-89), “Stiftsherrenhaus” (1558) and the “Rattenfängerhaus” (1602/03). There we will visit to the Glassblowers Workshop where during a live demonstration you can experience at first hand the history and methods of glassmaking of around 1800. Try your skills as a glassmaker and create your own personal piece of art in the glassblower’s workshop! After free time we return to Hanover.
Price: per person