Ratzeburg: Cathedral, Island Town and Water Experiences

Ratzeburg combines an island town shaped by water with important cultural sites and activities on the water. When planning a stay, you can therefore focus on different things: exploring architecture and museums, experiencing the town island from the water, or including a bike ride through the countryside of the Lauenburg Lakes Nature Park.

Getting your bearings on the town island

You can reach the town island from the west via Lüneburger Damm and from the east via Königsdamm. Ratzeburg Cathedral dominates the panorama; the town’s location is closely connected to the water. This is also clear when circumnavigating the island by water, which offers views of the cathedral and old town. If you prefer to get your bearings on land, the regular, checkerboard-style street plan offers another clue to the town’s history. The market square lies at its center; the layout reflects the Baroque reconstruction after 1693.

Cathedral, architecture and music

Construction of Ratzeburg Cathedral began around 1165 and was completed in 1220. As an example of Romanesque brick architecture in northern Germany, the cathedral is also architecturally remarkable. The cathedral and adjoining cathedral monastery house medieval and later art treasures, including choir stalls, a Gothic rood cross, a Passion relief and a Renaissance pulpit. The cathedral’s musical events bring a program of music to the year. As individual dates may change, check the latest concert information if you are planning your visit around one.

Museums and art on the island

The Herzogtum Lauenburg District Museum is located on Palmberg between the cathedral and the A. Paul Weber Museum. Its collection spans 1,000 years of art and cultural history, with particular focuses on Christmas traditions, the 1950s and works by artists from the region.

The A. Paul Weber Museum is located on the island in Lake Ratzeburg. More than 200 works, including lithographs, are on display in 20 rooms, alongside a functioning lithography workshop. Special exhibitions focus on Weber’s prints and works by other satirical and critical printmakers. As exhibition programs and museum information may change, it is advisable to check the latest information when planning a specific visit.

The island’s multi-stage art walk also connects Ratzeburg’s art venues with public works by established artists. Individual stages and artworks may be added or updated. The Ernst Barlach Museum Ratzeburg features an interactive presentation about around 150 years of modernization. The formats used include room installations, film projections and a large touchscreen; Barlach serves as the starting point for the period covered.

Water activities and cycling tours

Activities in Ratzeburg include sailing, rowing and canoeing, as well as rides on pedal boats or water bikes. There are also bathing beaches and passenger boat trips. The range of options extends from getting out on the water yourself to taking a trip as a passenger. Circumnavigating the town island by water offers a different perspective on the cathedral and old town than the view from the island panorama.

For a longer excursion, a circular cycling route of around 40 kilometers starts in Ratzeburg and runs through the Lauenburg Lakes Nature Park. It offers lake views and leads to an observation tower on Lake Mechow, which is used for birdwatching. Routes and facilities may change; possible wildlife sightings also depend on the conditions at the time. Before setting out, check the latest route information and plan birdwatching as a possibility, not a guaranteed result.

Historical traces and regional context

The local history of beer is also part of Ratzeburg’s past: Ratzeburg beer was historically known as Rommeldeus and shipped across the Baltic Sea to Gdańsk. In the wider travel destination of Herzogtum Lauenburg, 26 percent of the district is forested and it encompasses 48 lakes. These figures describe the regional context; in the topics covered here, Ratzeburg itself stands out in particular for its island-town setting, cathedral and varied water activities.

Discover more destinations: Salem, Hohenhorn, Aumühle, Brunstorf, Roseburg, Mölln, Ziehten, Alt Mölln.

Back to the wider travel overview: Herzogtum Lauenburg.