| Bückeburg | |
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  Bückeburg
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| Administration | |
| Country | Germany |
|---|---|
| State | Lower Saxony |
| District | Schaumburg |
| Town subdivisions | 13 |
| Mayor | Reiner Brombach (SPD) |
| Basic statistics | |
| Area | 68.84 km2 (26.58 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 63 m (207 ft) |
| Population | 20,836 (31 December 2006) |
| - Density | 303 /km2 (784 /sq mi) |
| Other information | |
| Time zone | CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2) |
| Licence plate | SHG |
| Postal code | 31675 |
| Area code | 05722 |
| Website | www.bueckeburg.de |
Bückeburg is a small town in Lower Saxony, Germany, on the border with North Rhine Westphalia. It was once the capital of the tiny principality of Schaumburg-Lippe and is today located in the district of Schaumburg close to the northern slopes of the Weserbergland ridge. Population: 20,800.
Bückeburg Palace (Schloss Bückeburg) was the residence of the Princes of Schaumburg-Lippe. Although the Princely family surrendered political power in 1918, they still live there today. The palace, part of which is open to the public, is a major touristic point of interest and houses important works of art and an important library. The history of the building spans 700 years, with the most important contributions stemming from the 16th, 17th, and 19th century.
The Princely Mausoleum in the palace courtyard is open to the 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 Army Aviators School using Bückeburg Air Base is located here.
The Town Church of Bückeburg (Bückeburger Stadtkirche) was one of the first Lutheran churches built after the Reformation. It is known for its pulpit and especially for the ornately decorated bronze-cast font, made by the Dutch artist Adriaen de Vries.
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 was buried in the churchyard of the Stadtkirchengemeinde-Bückeburg.
Bach set several texts by Johann Gottfried Herder, who was present at the Bückeburg court as its superintendent and chief preacher from 1771-1776.
Until recently, Bückeburg had a number of British residents, being a former British garrison town. British homes surrounded the outskirts of Bückeburg, but today their number has decreased to fewer than 50. The majority of Bückeburg's British residents work at the local English school in Rinteln, Prince Rupert School.
External links
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Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article Bückeburg. |
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