Steinhuder Meer & Wilhelmstein
Steinhuder Meer
Lower Saxony's largest lake, where you can take a traditional self-propelled sailing boat to the 18th-century Wilhelmstein fortress on an artificial island, then eat smoked eel on the shore.
Lake Steinhude lies about 30 km northwest of Hanover. It covers about 30 square kilometres and is the largest lake in northwest Germany. It is shallow, making it good for sailing and windsurfing. On the south shore, the village of Steinhude has a lakeside promenade, old fishermen's houses and smokehouses, and smoked eel is a local speciality. From the jetty, you can take a traditional wooden self-propelled sailing boat or a tour boat to the Wilhelmstein, an 18th-century fortress on an artificial island built in the lake by Count Schaumburg-Lippe. You can visit the fortress museum. The north shore has a marsh area for birdwatching. From Hanover, take the S1 or S2 S-Bahn to Wunstorf, then a bus, about one hour in total.
Opening hours
All day; boats to the island run about Apr–Oct
Nearby sights
- Herrenhausen Gardens
- Hamelin Old Town
- Wilhelm Busch Museum
- Nanas at Leibnizufer
- Old Town: Marktkirche & Old Town Hall
- Museum August Kestner
- New Town Hall
- Aegidienkirche Ruin