Bückeburg
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Bückeburg is a small town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It was once the capital of the tiny principality of Schaumburg-Lippe and is today located in the district of Schaumburg at the northern slopes of the Weserbergland mountains. Population: 20,800.
Aerial view of Bückeburg Castle
Bückeburg Castle (Schloss Bückeburg) was the residence of the Princes of Schaumburg-Lippe. Today, the Princely family, having surrendered political power in 1918, still lives there. The castle, which in part is open to the public, is a major touristic point of interest and houses important works of art. The building history spans 700 years, with the most important contributions stemming from the 16th,17th and 19th century.
The Princely Mausoleum in the Castle Park is open to he public as well. Built in 1915 in Neo-Romanic style resembling the Roman Pantheon, it is the world's largest private sepulchre still in use. The cupola is adorned by an impressive gold mosaic, the second largest of its kind after the one in the Hagia Sophia.
Bückeburg is also home to a Helicopter Museum, which features the early drawings of flying objects by Leonardo da Vinci as well as 40 actual helicopters. The German Army's Aviation School is located here.
Until recently, Bückeburg had a number of British residents, being a former British garrison. British homes surrounded the outskirts of Bückeburg but today their number has decreased to less than 50. The majority of Bückeburg's British residents work at the local English school in Rinteln, Prince Rupert School.
Composer Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach (1732-1795), a son of J.S. Bach, worked at the Bückeburg court from before 1751 until his death, first as a harpsichordist, then (from 1759) as Konzertmeister of the Hofkapelle there.
Bach set several texts by Johann Gottfried Herder, who was present at the Bückeburg court as its superintendent and chief preacher from 1771-1776.
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