Ratzeburger Dom

Ratzeburg Cathedral is an outstanding example of Romanesque brick architecture in northern Germany. Construction, initiated by Henry the Lion around 1165, was completed in 1220, and the cathedral continues to define the silhouette of the island town. The cathedral and the adjoining monastic complex house impressive artistic treasures, including the medieval choir stalls, the early Gothic triumphal cross (circa 1260), the Passion relief on the winged altar (1420), and the carved Renaissance pulpit (1576). In the cloister courtyard, Ernst Barlach’s bronze sculpture The Beggar on Crutches can be admired, while the gable of the southern transept features the “Ratzeburger Kegelspiel,” a depiction of a legend from Ratzeburg’s eventful history. The famous “Cathedral Music” also provides a musical accompaniment throughout the year.