Bückeburg might seem like a sleepy town at first glimpse, but you are going to find that it does offer a lot to see and do and a ton of history. In fact, up until after World War II, this town was in the independent German state of Schaumburg-Lippe. If you want to learn more about this region, visit the Schaumburg-Lippe Museum.
Plan on visiting the Shauburg-Lippe Museum in the morning, so that you can have time to visit the Helicopter Museum in the afternoon. Not only are there over 40 different helicopters, but there are also drawings of prototypes of helicopters done by Leonardo da Vinci.
Once you have visited the museums, you are going to want to check out the town center. The centerpiece is the Protestant church that was one of the first built after the Reformation.
A trip to Bückeburg wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the biggest tourist attraction — the Palace. This is where the royal family lived and reined. The family still lives there, but doesn’t have any political power anymore. Parts of this castle are open to the public, and most visitors are impressed by the number of books and pieces of art that are contained in this 700 year old complex.
Don’t forget the Princely Mausoleum, which is the biggest (and maybe the gaudiest) private mausoleum in the world that is still being used.
Haven’t had enough castles? You’re in luck, because right outside of the town is the Jagdschloss Baum. This castle is a bit less formal, and on weekends and holidays, you can even relax there and have a bite to eat. The castle is in the Schaumburg Forest, making it a nice place if you want to get out of the city.
If you want to check out the music scene, an evening with the Schaumburger Märchensänger will be a highlight to remember. For decades, this youth choir has been winning prizes and topping the charts and is famous throughout the world.
A youth choir isn’t the only musical connection, though. Johan Christoph Friedrich Bach, the son of Johann Sebastian Bach, lived and composed music in Bückeburg for 40 years.
