Ratzeburg, District capital in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.
Ratzeburg is a district capital in Schleswig-Holstein and occupies an island surrounded by three connected lakes. The old town shows medieval brick buildings, narrow lanes, and a compact layout linked to the mainland by four causeways.
The town became the capital of the Duchy of Saxe-Lauenburg in 1619, taking over from Lauenburg as the administrative seat. It held this role until 1876, when the political importance gradually faded after incorporation into Prussia.
The Dom zu Ratzeburg rises above the townscape and represents one of the oldest brick structures in northern Germany, with its Romanesque lines still visible after centuries. Inside, wooden sculptures and a baroque organ create a setting where church concerts take place regularly, keeping the musical tradition of the region alive.
Regular trains run from Ratzeburg station to Hamburg, connecting directly to the Hamburger Verkehrsverbund network. The old town is easy to explore on foot, as most sights lie close together and short walks link the main points.
Three lakes surround the town center: Küchensee, Großer Küchensee, and Ratzeburger See, leaving only four narrow land bridges as fixed links to the surrounding countryside. This layout has made attacks difficult over centuries and provided a natural defense that still shapes the topography today.
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