Ratzeburg - Ratzeburger Dom

Ratzeburg is known as an "island town" due to the location of its old town in the middle of Lake Ratzeburg and its connection with the mainland, which is only via three dams.

The town was founded on the island in the 11th century by the local ruler, Prince Ratibor of the Polabians, who was nicknamed Ratse.
In 1044 missionaries led by the monk Ansverus came into the region and built a monastery. In 1066 during a pagan rebellion, the monstery was destroayed and the monks were stoned to death. Ansverus was canonised in the 12th century and his relics were entombed in the Ratzeburg cathedral.

Heinrich der Löwe (Henry the Lion) became the ruler of the town in 1143 and established a bishopric in 1154.

The church, erected between 1160 and 1220, is located on the highest point of the northern tip of Ratzeburg's old town island. The cathedral was donated by Heinrich dem Löwen as the bishop's church of the Ratzeburg diocese.

The impressive building, erected between 1160 and 1220, is located on the highest point of the northern tip of Ratzeburg's old town island. The cathedral was donated by Henry the Lion as the bishop's church of the Ratzeburg diocese.

The cathedral is a three-nave Romanesque basilica with a transept, a Gothic cloister of the attached monastery (1251) on the north side and a massive west tower, that was in scaffolding in May 2021.

Some elements of the original Romanesque construction were appropriately adapted during the Gothic period.

A comprehensive restoration of the cathedral took place in the second half of the 19th century. After lightning struck during a thunderstorm in 1893, parts of the structure were destroyed by fire. Subsequent restorations were carried out until 1899. The last major restorations (1953-1966) restored the original condition.