Steinhude
Encyclopedia
Steinhude is a village in the borough of Wunstorf
in Hanover Region in the German state of Lower Saxony
. It is a tourist resort on the southern shore of Lake Steinhude.
Once a small, quiet fishing village, today Steinhude is well-known as a recreation centre in the Steinhuder Meer Nature Park
.
, by a 1.5 km long lakeside promenade.
Steinhude itself was first mentioned in the records at the end of the 13th century as Stenhuthe. The small settlement lived by farming the land and fishing and, in the 17th century, became a market town
. In 1641, during the Thirty Years War, the fishing village was almost totally destroyed. In the 18th century, linen
weaving became the most important source of income. There was a chocolate
factory in Steinhude as early as the mid-18th century, one of the first in Germany.
Administratively, Steinhude belonged to the Amt of Hagenburg
and was ruled by the counts of Schaumburg. Following the division of that county in 1640, Steinhude became part of the county of Schaumburg-Lippe
.
In the period 1761-1767 Count William I of Schaumburg-Lippe
had the fort of Wilhelmstein built on an artificial island in the lake.
In the 20th century the small village begin to expand into a tourist resort. The influx of refugee
s after the Second World War, the increase in tourism and a modest upturn in the economy led to a significant growth in the size of the place.
After the Second World War in 1945 there were several major changes in the appearance of the village and surrounding landscape. Another artificial island, 35000 m² in area, the swimming island (Badeinsel) was built in 1975. Between Steinhude and Hagenburg an embankment was constructed and made into a lakeside promenade. Until 1964 the Steinhude Lake Railway (Steinhuder Meer-Bahn or StMB), a narrow gauge railway, ran from Wunstorf to Uchte, through Steinhude.
The Schaumburg municipality of Steinhude was incorporated into the borough of Wunstorf
in the district of Hanover as part of the regional reform of 1974. In 2001 Hanover district became Hanover Region.
parish.
Formerly the two symbols were both shown on the same shield. Today they are each on their own shield.
In addition there is a variation of the coat-of-arms that only contains the fish symbol.
There are interesting routes and destinations around the lake in the nature park for walkers and cyclists. There are also round trips with horse and coaches.
The lake is used extensively for sailing
, and national and international regatta
s are held here. In winter there are competitions in ice sailing. Rowing
, canoeing
, pedalo
s and windsurfing
are also popular.
The artificial island built in 1974 and known as the Badeinsel Steinhude (Steinhude Swimming Island) has an area of 35000 square metres (8.6 acre) and has a flat sandy beach, special areas for sunbathing, relaxing and two sports fields. In summer there are also beach volleyball
tournaments for amateurs and professionals, music concerts and concert series.
In the historic 'barn quarter' (Scheunenviertel
) there are many, changing exhibitions in the art barn. This is also the location of the information office for the Steinhuder Meer Nature Park
.
In 1997 the Steinhuder Meer Golf Park was built, a golf course
set into an idyllic landscape.
) in July and the festive weekend in August with a half-hour firework display over the lake and an illuminated boat pageant, Lake Steinhude in Flames (Steinhuder Meer in Flammen). In December there is a Christmas Market
.
(Steinhuder Rauchaal).
and Wunstorf
.
The railway station at Wunstorf and the A2 motorway may be reached within 15 minutes by car.
Wunstorf
Wunstorf is a town in the district of Hanover, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated approx. 22 km west of Hanover. The following localities belong to the city of Wunstorf: Blumenau , Bokeloh, Grossenheidorn, Idensen , Klein Heidorn, Kolenfeld, Luthe, Mesmerode, Steinhude, Wunstorf....
in Hanover Region in the German state of Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony is a German state situated in north-western Germany and is second in area and fourth in population among the sixteen states of Germany...
. It is a tourist resort on the southern shore of Lake Steinhude.
Once a small, quiet fishing village, today Steinhude is well-known as a recreation centre in the Steinhuder Meer Nature Park
Steinhuder Meer Nature Park
The Steinhuder Meer Nature Park , with northwest Germany's largest inland lake, the Steinhuder Meer, at its heart, covers an area of within the districts of Nienburg and Schaumburg and the region of Hanover...
.
Location
Steinhude lies on the southern shore of Lake Steinhude. To the east, the fishing village has grown and merged with its neighbouring village of Großenheidorn. To the south is the B 441 federal road and a small copse, the Hoheholz. Another landmark to the south is the 140m high potash heap near Bokeloh. Steinhude is linked to its western neighbour, HagenburgHagenburg
Hagenburg is a municipality in the district of Schaumburg, in Lower Saxony, Germany....
, by a 1.5 km long lakeside promenade.
History
The shore of Lake Steinhude has been settled since early times.Steinhude itself was first mentioned in the records at the end of the 13th century as Stenhuthe. The small settlement lived by farming the land and fishing and, in the 17th century, became a market town
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
. In 1641, during the Thirty Years War, the fishing village was almost totally destroyed. In the 18th century, linen
Linen
Linen is a textile made from the fibers of the flax plant, Linum usitatissimum. Linen is labor-intensive to manufacture, but when it is made into garments, it is valued for its exceptional coolness and freshness in hot weather....
weaving became the most important source of income. There was a chocolate
Chocolate
Chocolate is a raw or processed food produced from the seed of the tropical Theobroma cacao tree. Cacao has been cultivated for at least three millennia in Mexico, Central and South America. Its earliest documented use is around 1100 BC...
factory in Steinhude as early as the mid-18th century, one of the first in Germany.
Administratively, Steinhude belonged to the Amt of Hagenburg
Hagenburg
Hagenburg is a municipality in the district of Schaumburg, in Lower Saxony, Germany....
and was ruled by the counts of Schaumburg. Following the division of that county in 1640, Steinhude became part of the county of Schaumburg-Lippe
Schaumburg-Lippe
Schaumburg-Lippe was until 1946 a small state in Germany, located in the present day state of Lower Saxony, with its capital at Bückeburg.- History :...
.
In the period 1761-1767 Count William I of Schaumburg-Lippe
William, Count of Schaumburg-Lippe
Wilhelm, Count of Schaumburg-Lippe-Bückeburg , born Friedrich Wilhelm Ernst Graf zu Schaumburg-Lippe-Bückeburg, was a ruler of the County of Schaumburg-Lippe-Bückeburg, and an important military commander in the Seven Years' War.-Biography:He was born in London the son Albrecht Wolfgang, Count of...
had the fort of Wilhelmstein built on an artificial island in the lake.
In the 20th century the small village begin to expand into a tourist resort. The influx of refugee
Refugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
s after the Second World War, the increase in tourism and a modest upturn in the economy led to a significant growth in the size of the place.
After the Second World War in 1945 there were several major changes in the appearance of the village and surrounding landscape. Another artificial island, 35000 m² in area, the swimming island (Badeinsel) was built in 1975. Between Steinhude and Hagenburg an embankment was constructed and made into a lakeside promenade. Until 1964 the Steinhude Lake Railway (Steinhuder Meer-Bahn or StMB), a narrow gauge railway, ran from Wunstorf to Uchte, through Steinhude.
The Schaumburg municipality of Steinhude was incorporated into the borough of Wunstorf
Wunstorf
Wunstorf is a town in the district of Hanover, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated approx. 22 km west of Hanover. The following localities belong to the city of Wunstorf: Blumenau , Bokeloh, Grossenheidorn, Idensen , Klein Heidorn, Kolenfeld, Luthe, Mesmerode, Steinhude, Wunstorf....
in the district of Hanover as part of the regional reform of 1974. In 2001 Hanover district became Hanover Region.
Religions
In Steinhude there is an Evangelical-Lutheran church, a Roman Catholic church and a New Apostolic ChurchNew Apostolic Church
The New Apostolic Church is a chiliastic church, converted to Protestantism as a free church from the Catholic Apostolic Church. The church has existed since 1879 in Germany and since 1897 in the Netherlands...
parish.
Coats-of-arms
Meaning: The silver nettle leaf on a red shield had been used since the 12th century by the counts of Schaumburg as their coat-of-arms. The fish is a symbol of the former importance of Steinhude as a fishing village.Formerly the two symbols were both shown on the same shield. Today they are each on their own shield.
In addition there is a variation of the coat-of-arms that only contains the fish symbol.
Museums
Steinhude has several small museums:- Fish and Weaving Museum
- Toy and Children's World Museum (in the Scheunen quarter)
- Insect Museum with butterfly farm
- Linen Weaving, which still produces table linen today.
Sport and leisure
Steinhude offers a wide range of leisure activities.There are interesting routes and destinations around the lake in the nature park for walkers and cyclists. There are also round trips with horse and coaches.
The lake is used extensively for sailing
Sailing
Sailing is the propulsion of a vehicle and the control of its movement with large foils called sails. By changing the rigging, rudder, and sometimes the keel or centre board, a sailor manages the force of the wind on the sails in order to move the boat relative to its surrounding medium and...
, and national and international regatta
Regatta
A regatta is a series of boat races. The term typically describes racing events of rowed or sailed water craft, although some powerboat race series are also called regattas...
s are held here. In winter there are competitions in ice sailing. Rowing
Watercraft rowing
Watercraft rowing is the act of propelling a boat using the motion of oars in the water. The difference between paddling and rowing is that with rowing the oars have a mechanical connection with the boat whereas with paddling the paddles are hand-held with no mechanical connection.This article...
, canoeing
Canoeing
Canoeing is an outdoor activity that involves a special kind of canoe.Open canoes may be 'poled' , sailed, 'lined and tracked' or even 'gunnel-bobbed'....
, pedalo
Pedalo
A paddle boat or "pedalo" is a form of waterborne transport, primarily for recreational use, powered through the use of pedals....
s and windsurfing
Windsurfing
Windsurfing or sailboarding is a surface water sport that combines elements of surfing and sailing. It consists of a board usually two to four metres long, powered by the orthogonal effect of the wind on a sail. The rig is connected to the board by a free-rotating universal joint and comprises a...
are also popular.
The artificial island built in 1974 and known as the Badeinsel Steinhude (Steinhude Swimming Island) has an area of 35000 square metres (8.6 acre) and has a flat sandy beach, special areas for sunbathing, relaxing and two sports fields. In summer there are also beach volleyball
Beach volleyball
Beach volleyball, or sand volleyball, is an Olympic team sport played by two teams of two players on a sand court divided by a net.Like volleyball, the object of the game is to send the ball over the net in order to ground it on the opponent’s court, and to prevent the same effort by the opponent....
tournaments for amateurs and professionals, music concerts and concert series.
In the historic 'barn quarter' (Scheunenviertel
Scheunenviertel
Scheunenviertel refers to a neighborhood of Mitte in the centre of Berlin. It is situated to the north of the medieval Altberlin area, east of the Rosenthaler Straße and Hackescher Markt...
) there are many, changing exhibitions in the art barn. This is also the location of the information office for the Steinhuder Meer Nature Park
Steinhuder Meer Nature Park
The Steinhuder Meer Nature Park , with northwest Germany's largest inland lake, the Steinhuder Meer, at its heart, covers an area of within the districts of Nienburg and Schaumburg and the region of Hanover...
.
In 1997 the Steinhuder Meer Golf Park was built, a golf course
Golf course
A golf course comprises a series of holes, each consisting of a teeing ground, fairway, rough and other hazards, and a green with a flagstick and cup, all designed for the game of golf. A standard round of golf consists of playing 18 holes, thus most golf courses have this number of holes...
set into an idyllic landscape.
Regular events
High points in the calendar are Fischerkreidag on the weekend after Ascension, the shooting festival (SchützenfestSchützenfest
A Schützenfest is a traditional festival or fair featuring a target shooting competition in the cultures of both Germany and Switzerland....
) in July and the festive weekend in August with a half-hour firework display over the lake and an illuminated boat pageant, Lake Steinhude in Flames (Steinhuder Meer in Flammen). In December there is a Christmas Market
Christmas Market
A Christmas market, also known as Christkindlmarkt, Christkindlesmarkt, Christkindlmarket, and Weihnachtsmarkt, is a street market associated with the celebration of Christmas during the four weeks of Advent...
.
Cuisine
Steinhude is known for its fish specialities, particularly the Steinhude smoked eelEel
Eels are an order of fish, which consists of four suborders, 20 families, 111 genera and approximately 800 species. Most eels are predators...
(Steinhuder Rauchaal).
Transport
There are bus links to Rehburg, StadthagenStadthagen
Stadthagen is the capital of the district of Schaumburg, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated approx. 20 km east of Minden and 40 km west of Hanover. The city consists of the districts Brandenburg, Enzen-Hobbensen, Hörkamp-Langenbruch, Krebshagen, Obernwöhren, Probsthagen, Reinsen...
and Wunstorf
Wunstorf
Wunstorf is a town in the district of Hanover, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated approx. 22 km west of Hanover. The following localities belong to the city of Wunstorf: Blumenau , Bokeloh, Grossenheidorn, Idensen , Klein Heidorn, Kolenfeld, Luthe, Mesmerode, Steinhude, Wunstorf....
.
The railway station at Wunstorf and the A2 motorway may be reached within 15 minutes by car.