Around the Riesenmühle
The Schaumburg region is quiet, green and full of history. Here is a small selection. As a guest you’ll find our detailed travel guide (in English, too) with hiking routes, places to eat and many more ideas printed in the guest folder in the house.
All driving times are by car from the mill and rounded. Opening hours change with the seasons, so please check before you go.
Right at the mill
- The waterfall: At the mill’s weir, the water of the mill race drops 5 metres. About 500 metres upstream, an old weir diverts it from the Riesbach stream.
- The Mill Beech (Mühlenbuche): A few minutes’ walk through the woods stands one of the thickest beech trees in Germany, over 7 metres round and about 35 metres tall.
- Woodland paths and the mill yard with its half-timbered bakehouse, right on your doorstep.
Castles and history in and around Apelern
- Wasserschloss Münchhausen, Apelern: A moated Renaissance manor built from 1560 for the von Münchhausen family, who also built the mill. It’s just a few hundred metres away and still owned by the family. You can view it from the outside.
- Schloss von Hammerstein, Apelern (2 km): A small Renaissance castle from 1586–1590, today also a venue for weddings and celebrations.
- Apelern church: Romanesque hall church from around 1150 with a fortified tower and the von Münchhausen family crypt.
- Wasserschloss Hülsede (approx. 10 min): one of the earliest surviving examples of the Weser Renaissance, today mainly an event venue.
Hiking
- Deister hills (from approx. 15 min): for example from the Mooshütte above Bad Nenndorf up to the Deister ridge, to the Annaturm tower or to the Feggendorf mine adit (guided tours on set dates).
- Süntel hills (approx. 25–30 min): the Hohenstein cliffs with views over the Weser valley, the Totental valley and the loop to the Süntelturm tower.
- Dinosaur trail on the Bückeberg, Obernkirchen: real dinosaur footprints from the Cretaceous period on a family-friendly 4.6 km loop (short version 2.8 km).
- Rodenberg ridge trail (9.8 km) with views of the Deister and Süntel, and the small apple trail in Apelern.
Swimming and spa
- Landgrafen-Therme Bad Nenndorf (approx. 10 min): thermal brine pool with sauna.
- Tropicana Stadthagen (approx. 15 min): leisure pool with a tube slide.
- Outdoor pools in summer: Rodenberg and Lauenau are closest; the Waldbad Rohden near Hessisch Oldendorf, set in the woods, is especially lovely.
With children
- Wisentgehege Springe (approx. 25 min): wildlife park with European bison, wolves, bears and birds of prey.
- Hanover Adventure Zoo (approx. 35 min) and SEA LIFE Hanover (approx. 25 min).
- Butterfly farm Steinhude (approx. 30 min, seasonal).
- Schillat Cave, Hessisch Oldendorf (approx. 20 min): stalactite cave with guided tours.
- Wennigsen water wheels in the Deister (late April to early October): colourful miniature watermills along a stream.
- On rainy days: indoor play centres in Hagenburg and Luhden.
Towns and day trips
- Lake Steinhude (approx. 30 min): the largest lake in north-west Germany, with boats to the island fortress of Wilhelmstein (seasonal).
- Bückeburg (approx. 25 min): residential palace of the Princes of Schaumburg-Lippe and the Princely Court Riding School.
- Rinteln (approx. 25 min) and Hamelin (approx. 30 min): half-timbered houses and Weser Renaissance; in Hamelin, the Pied Piper glockenspiel.
- Hanover (approx. 30–40 min): Herrenhausen Gardens, old town, museums.
- Hermann Monument in the Teutoburg Forest (approx. 70 min): a day trip, easily combined with the Externsteine rocks.
Places to eat nearby
Café Anno 1869 in Lyhren, the Felsenkeller brewery tavern (Rupp-Bräu) in Lauenau, Forsthaus Blumenhagen and the Mooshütte forest inn on the Deister. Opening hours vary a lot, so please check or call ahead.