Steinhuder Lake

The Largest Inland Water Body and The Sailor's Paradise in Northern Germany

Steinhuder Lake, which is one of the largest leisure attractions in northern Germany, is only a few kilometres away from the city of Neustadt. This popular inland water body is a result of the Saale Ice Age approximately 200,000 years ago. The old legend of Steinhuder Lake tells of dwarves and a giant who took part in the origin of the lake. The dwarves woke the giant up and he chased after the troublemakers. When the giant could not find the dwarves, he let out his anger by smashing a huge hole into the ground with his fist. The dwarves congregated at the new hole and cried until their tears filled it. Thus, Steinhuder Lake was created.

With a surface area of thirty-two square kilometres and a depth ranging from 0.5 to 3.5 meters, Steinhuder Lake is an international destination for countless windsurfers, sailors and swimmers. The rural countryside in the middle of a nature reserve (Expo 2000 - Project) invites you to enjoy a peaceful bike ride or quiet hike. Thirty-two kilometres of trails thread throughout the untouched nature surrounding Steinhuder Lake. Visitors find the area especially beautiful due to the fact that an abundance of wild animals make their homes here. From spring to fall you can meet many individuals enjoying their holidays in the big camping sites on the northern shore or on White Mountain. When the weather is sunny and the sky is cloudless, you can gaze from the top of White Mountain (fifty-seven meters above sea level) over a picturesque landscape resembling a northern Italian lake. Many observation towers offer nature lovers the possibility for undisturbed viewing. The awesome picture they see is splashed with the colours of sailboats, windsurfers, numerous rowing boats, and canoes. All this is sure-fire recipe for a relaxed holiday sensation. Even in winter there are many leisure activities on Steinhuder Lake. Ice sailors and ice skaters have the time of their lives on the frozen lake. The lake itself, the isle of Wilhelmstein, the bright coast, and the surrounding land form the Steinhuder Lake into a leisure and vacation refuge without tourism stress or busy hotels. To get around on the lake, an abundance of paddleboats, rowboats and a motorboat line from the small town of Mardorf to the town of Steinhude are available. A stop at the Isle of Wilhelmstein is also possible.

Isle of Wilhelmstein

Friedrich Wilhelm von Schaumburg-Lippe, who is arguably the most important military scientist of his time, fortified the Isle of Wilhelmstein in the middle of the 18th century. Once the fortress was a cadet school, later it became a state prison, and now it is a museum specializing in the history of the island. The fun for Steinhuder Lake visitors of all ages does not stop when the sun sets. The evening also presents many entertainment options. If you are "ready for the island" you can visit the traditional Saturday night disco. One special evening a year a romantic event takes place on the southern side of the lake. Large crowds enjoy a magnificent firework display that creates the illusion that Steinhuder Lake is “in flames”. On this evening, the very young and the people in love are especially content to complete the evening dining in a Steinhuder Lake fresh fish restaurant. Steinhuder Lake is an experience for every age group and a popular destination for people seeking restful leisure.