Lauenstein is a village in the municipality of Salzhemmendorf in the Lower Saxon district of Hameln-Pyrmont in north Germany.

Lauenstein lies in the Weser Uplands, not far from the only low saddle in the crest of the Ith, in a valley that descends eastwards at right angles to the Ith ridge.

The feudal lords in the district (Amt) area were the barons of Homburg, who exercised power from 1152 to 1409.

In 1226 the demise of the Spiegelberg was reported,[1] when the barons of Homburg from Stadtoldendorf fought for the territorial estate of Bernard of Spiegelberg and were able to unite it with their lordship of Homburg into an advocacy (Vogtei).

It was mentioned as such for the first time in 1247, when Henry of Homburg transferred the castle to the Welf duke, Otto the Child and received it back as a fief.