Camping at Lake Steinhude

Located in Lower Saxony, the deep blue of the Steinhuder Meer welcomes you. The picturesque lake surrounds two man-made islands and offers the perfect conditions for a wide range of water sports, such as sailing, water skiing and surfing. Although the Steinhuder Meer is one of the largest lakes in the region, the average depth is only around 1.35 metres - ideal for families with children or four-legged campers!

Special features of camping on Lake Steinhude

The campsites at Steinhuder Meer impress guests above all with their excellent location: the lake is located in Lower Saxony, around 30 km north-west of Hanover and north of the Rehburg Mountains. Two artificial islands have been created in the centre of the lake. The first island, Wilhelmstein, was built in the 18th century for military reasons and is now a popular destination for culture vultures. The bathing island attracts visitors with its Mediterranean flair and can be easily reached via a bridge from the southern shore of the lake. Water lovers will love the campsites located directly on the water. Many of the campsites offer their own access to the lake via their own beach or jetty.

The Erlengrund campsite in Rehberg-Loccum, the Mardorf campsite, the Bannsee campsite between Schneeren and Mardorf, the Nordurfercamping campsite, the Steinhuder Meer motorhome site and the Bruchdamm motorhome site all offer a wide range of facilities at the Steinhuder Meer.

Campsites by the Steinhuder Meer

The Nordufercamping in Mardorf, a district of Neustadt am Rübenberge, boasts an excellent location directly on the lake. The child-friendly site has a natural tree population for pitches in the shade, modern sanitary buildings and a bread roll service for breakfast in the morning. The Mardorf campsite has a jetty in the reeds for surfers and kiters to get into the water.

You can also explore the fishing paradise from here by boat and savour delicious fish for dinner. It is also one of the region's annual campsites and can therefore also be visited in winter. The pitches for caravans and motorhomes, the sanitary building and the bathing island are part of a very well-kept complex. The alternatives around the Steinhuder Meer are the Bruchdamm motorhome site, the Bannsee campsite, the Steinhuder Meer motorhome site and the Erlengrund campsite in Rehberg-Loccum.

How to get here

The Steinhuder Meer holiday region can be easily reached by all means of transport. Travellers with motorhomes and caravans can look forward to well-developed and adequately signposted motorways. Traffic delays can occur, especially during the peak travel period in the German summer holidays in July and August. Tolls are only payable in Germany from a vehicle weight of 12 tonnes.

Steinhude can be reached via the A2 motorway or the Wunstorf Kolenfeld, Bad Nenndorf or Wunstorf-Luthe junctions. Anyone travelling from the north should follow the B6 via Neustadt am Rübenberge or the B411 via Stolzenau. To get to the northern shore of the Steinhuder Meer, holidaymakers take the A2 motorway. From there, take the B6 motorway. Campers whose accommodation is located on the southern shore of the lake should also take the A2 motorway. However, they then continue on either the B441 or B442 trunk roads.

Destinations on the Steinhuder Meer

Gothic buildings, picturesque old town, many sights - Hanover, the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony, has a lot to offer. If you prefer small towns, pay a visit to Hagenburg, for example.

Hanover

Visitors stroll through narrow, winding streets in the city centre and marvel at architecturally charming buildings, such as the magnificent Old Town Hall or the Gothic Market Church. The capital of Lower Saxony welcomes its guests just 45 minutes by car from Lake Steinhude. Those interested in culture can look forward to numerous attractions worth seeing, such as the palatial New Town Hall. The impressive building boasts a magnificent dome from which visitors can enjoy a marvellous view. The **Herrenhausen Gardens **also attract many visitors. The extensive, lovingly maintained gardens date back to the 17th century and boast one of the most impressive fountains in Europe as well as an open-air theatre where events are regularly held.

Hagenburg Castle

Situated in the Steinhuder Meer Nature Park, this tranquil little corner of the world offers visitors a warm welcome. The small Hagenburg Castle complex was once designed as a half-timbered building and is connected to the Steinhuder Meer by the Hagenburg Canal. Surrounded by an idyllic castle park, it is the ideal place for those seeking peace and quiet. Hagenburg is also home to the insect museum and the fishing and weaving museum.

Top 5 sights

• **Schloss Landestrost Neustadt: **Situated on the Rouvenberg, this imposing building is home to exhibitions and beautiful architecture in the Weser Renaissance style.
• **Wilhelmstein Fortress: **This popular excursion destination is located on an island in the middle of the Steinhuder Meer and is home to a museum.
• **Steinhuder Meer Nature Park: **Characterised by mysterious moors, deep green forests and mountains, this extensive area welcomes visitors.
• Paula windmill: The Dutch mill is a four-storey museum.
• Steinhuder Toy Museum: In addition to delicate toys, holidaymakers will also find toy building sets, cuddly toys and collector's figures here.

Top 2 insider tips

• **Butterfly farm: Families with children can look forward to a lovingly designed free-flight hall in which hundreds of exotic butterflies cavort. Young and old alike can observe the creatures in their natural habitat. *** Sea Tree Adventure Park: One of Germany's most beautiful forest ropes courses, the leisure park awaits its guests with a total of 27 stations in three levels of difficulty. Visitors are trained and then venture to unknown heights above the treetops.

Activities and excursions

Whether sailing or surfing - water sports enthusiasts will find a true paradise at Steinhuder Meer. If you want to see something different, take an exciting trip to the surrounding area and visit Bremen, for example.

Excursion to Bremen

The northern German Hanseatic city of Bremen is around two hours' drive away and is known above all for its charming city centre. Particularly worth seeing are the magnificent Gothic-style town hall and the huge stone statue of the Roland of Bremen.

Water sports

The cool waters of the Steinhuder Meer offer the best conditions for water sports enthusiasts. Guests can sail across the glistening surface of the water and watch a marvellous sunset in the evening. There are numerous sailing clubs and schools along the shore that offer courses for both beginners and advanced sailors. A special surfing beach awaits keen surfers on the northern shore of the lake in Mardorf. However, due to the protection of migratory birds, it can only be used from April to October.

Events

Big parties, colourful fireworks, cute markets - there's never a dull moment at Steinhuder Meer. During a holiday in this region, guests can experience some exciting events.

May and October

• Arts and crafts market in Mardorf: With around 100 stalls, the Mardorf arts and crafts market invites you to shop for painstakingly handcrafted unique items. The market takes place every year on Ascension Day and the Day of German Unity, i.e. at the end of May and beginning of October. Admission is free.

August

• Festive weekend: The Festive Weekend takes place at Steinhuder Meer at the end of August. At this time, the holiday region is transformed into a maritime festival site. Guests can look forward to a colourful firework display with free admission.
• Mallorca Party: For several years now, over 2,000 Mallorca fans have been flocking to Steinhuder Meer in August. The celebrities of the Ballermann and great DJs meet here for a big event. Holidaymakers party with famous stars and experience one of the hottest events in the area.

Gastronomy

** Holidaymakers at the Steinhuder Meer** campsite look forward to the delicious, sometimes hearty Lower Saxon cuisine. A soup is often served before the meal. A particular favourite, for example, is the wedding soup with various garnishes, a clear soup based on a meat broth. Meat dishes are usually served as the main course. Regional specialities include game and Heidschnucken dishes, such as a juicy beef steak or Heidschnucken roast. Various sausage products, such as cabbage sausage or Bregenwurst, are also very popular. A particular speciality from Hanover is the Grützwurst Knipp. As Lower Saxony is home to countless breweries, people like to drink a freshly tapped beer with their meal. The Fischerstübchen Mardorf is a suitable restaurant tip directly on the Steinhuder Meer, especially as the campsite is right on the doorstep.

Best time to visit

The climate in Lower Saxony can be described as typical of German weather conditions. Summers are hot and mostly sunny, while winters tend to be cold and wet. The best time to go **camping at Steinhuder Meer **is from June to September. At this time, guests can expect average daytime temperatures of up to 30 degrees Celsius and many hours of sunshine. The cool water of the lake promises to cool you down, with refreshing water temperatures of around 21 degrees Celsius. Sports enthusiasts and those interested in culture also enjoy travelling in May or October. This allows them to take advantage of the wide range of sports and leisure activities on offer in pleasant, mild temperatures. The Steinhuder Meer is also a small sailing paradise thanks to its winds.