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Bodenwerder is situated at an altitude of 257 m in the hill country of the Upper Weser mountains of southern Lower Saxony. It was founded in 1245 on an island in the river Weser and received a town charter in 1287. For 700 years the historic old town remained on the island until in 1948 the left river branch was filled in.

Bodenwerder is best-known as the home of Baron Münchhausen. Hieronymus Karl Friedrich Freiherr (Baron) von Münchhausen was born in Bodenwerder in 1720 and became an officer in the Russian army. After returning to his family estates in 1750 he lived here until his death in 1797. He became famous throughout Germany as a brilliant story-teller. His fabulous stories were published already during his life-time (albeit without his consent). The manor house of the Münchhausen estates today is used as the town hall of Bodenwerder. On the occasion of the 200th anniversary of his death the town of Bodenwerder founded the Münchhausen Prize.

The picture on glass no.1649 shows an episode of one of Münchhausen's most popular stories, himself riding a canonball.