A historical walk through Stadthagen

image author: Mit freundlicher Genehmigung der Stadt Stadthagen

Stadthagen is located at the north side of the up to 367m high Bückeberg, which is situated between Deister and Weser. Stadthagen is the market town of the rural district Schaumburg. Today Stadthagen has a population of 23.200.

Stadthagen's old town was founded according to plan by Count Adolf IH in the jungle at the Bückeburg around 1222. Stadthagen is the centre of the Schaumburg-Lippischen Hagenhufen villages.

The marketplace is located right in the old town's centre, 2 streets each start from it's four corners, which are connected by crossing alleys. The old town was secured with moat, rampart and city wall and is a typical town foundation in the Late Middle Ages. The old rampart with its trees surrounds still the old town today.

At the marketplace there are many more pretty half-timbered buildings to be admired among others No. 21 Am Markt, the most richly decorated house of the town, No. 15, No 23 from the year 1650 and No. 4, which housed the pub of the 'Städtische Brauerei' (town brewery) for over 100 years.

No. 8 Am Markt, corner Markt-Echternstraße, stands a beautiful half-timbered house from 1573, the Haus zum Wolf'. Here the fan-rosettes and fills are colourful designed. Along the northeast side of the marketplace stretches the brick town hall, built in the style of Weser renaissance from 1595 to 1602. The three oriels are being crowned by valuable stonemason work (guardian busts). The stonemason was Johann Robyn from Flanders. The 'Utlucht' on the east side has been set back. The complete town administration and the council chamber is still situated in the centre behind the old town hall.

image author: Mit freundlicher Genehmigung der Stadt Stadthagen

At the east side of the marketplace, at the church yard is the St. Martini-church situated. The oldest part is the 42,3m high tower with pitched roof. From 1318 onwards the choir was extended as burial place for the Schaumburg earls and the nave was turned into a Gothic hall church. Next to the main entrance stands the 4,5m high and 9m wide stone tomb of Count Otto IV of Schaumburg with his two wives. It was inaugurated in Es 1581. the church's most valuable interior piece is the carved altar from Flanders constructed in the year 1460. The altar was redesigned in the style of the Bückeburg Baroque by the chancellor Anton von Wietersheim in 1585. The central nave shows a late-Gothic work Christ on the cross surrounded by Mary and John.

The heptagonal mausoleum of Count Ernst of Schaumburg borders directly at the St. Martini-church. The design stems from the Italian master builder Giovanni Maria Nosseni. Located inside is the in German and European art history famous marble and bronze tomb of Count Ernst. The tomb was created in Prague by Adrian des Vries from 1613 to 1620. At the old church yard is the old Latin school situated a Gothic building from the year 1565, as well as other pretty, old half-timbered buildings; a beam inscription depicts the original name of the town 'Grevenalfeshagen' (Graf Adolfs Hagen).

At the Niedernstraße, a lowered street, are more well worth seeing half-timbered buildings.

In front of the Niederntore is Stadthagen's oldest building situated, the plain St. Johannis chapel from 1312. The slanting observation slits at the north side were made for the leprosy ill to enable them to take part at the church service. Inside the chapel hangs an epitaph for Anton Vogelsang, who went 'as abandoned orphan' to Amsterdam and Batavia and donated 3000 Thaler for the poorhouse in his home town Stadthagen.

The town tower from 1423 of the old town wall at the west side at the central omnibus terminal OB still exists. Part of the town wall can still be recognised. At the est side of the old town are several noble estates located. Of those the Landsbergsche Hof from 1731 needs a special mention, today it houses the municipal library.
At the south side is the palace situated. It was constructed as a moated castle from 1200 onwards. The present building was constructed in the Weser Renaissance style by the Swabian master builder Jörg Unkair from 1534 to 1544. The magnificent building is being decorated by a grand gable with half-circle top-parts and globes.
Since 1919 is the palace owned by the free state Schaumburg-Lippe, since 1946 by the state of Lower Saxony. Today it is the seat of the revenue office.

The administration and justice building from 1553 is situated just in front of the palace. The half-timbered building offers in lavish glory lovely wooden architecture at the infills and columns. 23 steel rosettes decorate the gable sides and the fillets filled with rows of pearls and ribbons are wonderful. This building houses the museum Amtspforte today.

Today's Stadthagen is a market town and middle-order centre not only industrial focus and administration seat in the rural district Schaumburg but for more than 50.000 people the centre of provision and services. The town itself has a population of 23.200.
Stadthagen stays abreast of the town changes in its function as a middle-order centre. During the by now finished redevelopment measures care was taken to keep the old town character and at the same make the shopping and service facilities even more attractive for the population. Through this Stadthagen has become an additional choice for shoppers from the surrounding regions. Stadthagen's leisure offers are well known beyond the city borders. Part of it is among others the leisure bath Tropicana and the diverse cultural events inside the medieval city walls. Stadthagen offers all necessary public facilities including encompassing medical care, among others the clinical centre Schaumburg, branch Stadthagen and an ophthalmic clinic. Stadthagen is a popular residential location due to its attractive old town, the numerous Weser Renaissance pearls (Stadthagen is EWR-location), its picturesque location and diverse leisure choices. Because of being favourable location regarding to traffic to Greater Hanover - Stadthagen is a commuter railway stop - Stadthagen is also interesting for people coming from Greater Hanover to build their residence here. That businesses knows about the location benefits, indicates the existing industry and trade branches. The biggest employer is the company Faurecia Sitztechnik GmbH & Co. KG.
Well over 10.000 regular employees work in around 1.300 businesses in Stadthagen. Of those roughly half is working in trade and the building industry. Stadthagen's special strength is education and further education. Apart from the general school systems, there is also a vocational school centre and municipal adult education school, which offers a comprehensive choice for further education. Available are also specialised schools for geriatric care, business economics, catering and technique.