The founding of the Bückeburg as a precursor to the castle can be traced back to 1304, when it was first mentioned in a document. At the beginning of the 14th century, Count Adolf VI. from Schauenburg and Holstein-Pinneberg the moated castle Bückeburg to monitor the important trade route Hellweg from here. It was named after the old Bückeburg, which fell into ruin around 1181, in nearby Obernkirchen, the castle of the Counts of Bukkigau. Initially, the fortifications consisted of a fortified tower and farm buildings, in front of which a small settlement developed over time.
In 1365 the small town of Bukkiborg was given the righteousness of spots, and around 1396 Otto I von Schaumburg appointed a clergyman to his newly built chapel. In 1492 the castle had only 13 rooms, but by 1527 under John IV it developed into a fortified complex with moats, ramparts and bastions.
From 1560 Otto IV. Von Schaumburg had the original moated castle redesigned into a representative four-wing palace in the Weser Renaissance style in just four years. For this purpose, some of the building fabric of the old facility was integrated into the new building. Heinrich Schrader and Jacob Kölling were responsible as builders. The west and north wings were connected by the so-called Trumpeter Walk, an open gallery on the courtyard side.