Hagenburg

© Florian Toffel

Hagenburg is located south of the Steinhuder Meer. The town has a lot to offer, especially for guests seeking peace and relaxation. In addition to a wide range of recreational activities, you can explore the nearby wooded areas—which once captivated the writer Hermann Löns. It’s also worth taking a detour to Hagenburg Castle, the neo-Gothic church, the marina, and the boulder and bog garden. 

Excursion tip

The Steinhuder Meer Loop Trail runs along the Hagenburg Canal. Before crossing it via a picturesque wooden arch bridge, we recommend taking a detour to the nearby Hagenburg Castle. The former summer residence of the Counts and Princes of Schaumburg-Lippe is now a private art gallery and auction house and is open only for events. Its origins date back to the medieval Hagenborch Castle, of which, however, hardly any structural remains have survived. Today, the castle consists of the southern half-timbered wing, built in 1686, and the east wing, which was rebuilt in the Neoclassical style at the end of the 18th century.

The wooded castle grounds (known as the "Knick") are home to many old and some rare trees. Since 1913, rhododendrons have adorned the approximately 400-meter-long castle avenue. Especially during the blooming season (late May/early June), this spot offers a picturesque view of the castle.

© Matthias Falk

Other recreational activities in Hagenburg

In the bog garden, visitors can explore a 350-meter-long nature trail to discover animals and plants typical of raised bogs and fens. There is also a café with a terrace on the grounds.

The boulder garden features 23 boulders, each made of a different type of rock. The glaciers of the Saale Glacial Period carried these colossal boulders—millions of years old—from Scandinavia to the area around Hagenburg. The boulder garden is a lovely place to take a break.

The Hagenburg Canal, the castle, and the boulder and moor gardens are part of the sightseeing tour through Hagenburg. The Steinhuder Meer Loop Trail leads past the castle park, along the Hagenburg Moor, and on through the Meerbruch. This open, expansive meadow landscape stretches across the entire shoreline in the southwest and west of the Steinhuder Meer.