Apelern is a municipality in the Samtgemeinde of Rodenberg in the district of Schaumburg, in Lower Saxony, Germany.

It lies in the Deister-Süntel valley and is situated close to the A2 Autobahn at Lauenau and south of Rodenberg, between the Deister, Süntel and Bückeberg ridges.

In Saxon times (c. 8th and 9th centuries) Apelern had a place of worship (the seat of an archdeaconry) and a court of justice.

In common with many villages in Germany and elsewhere, its history is closely connected with that of the local nobility.

For the last 300 to 400 years the noble families of Münchhausen and Hammerstein have stamped their mark on the village.