Neuruppin sits at the edge of an idyllic lake, Ruppiner See, 100 kilometers northwest of Berlin.
As you look at St. Trinity Church on the waterfront promenade, you are seeing the oldest surviving piece of architecture from a proud past dating back to 1246. That’s when the first Dominican monastery of the Mark was founded here.
You know that such a fine location is strategic, so it comes as no surprise that this was a garrison town for many centuries.
The Prussian Army was quartered here, as was Frederick the Great during his years as the crown prince (1732–1736). Indeed, some have called Neuruppin “the most Prussian of all Prussian towns,” and hospitality here reflects it.
A visit to the Town Museum will reveal the oldest and most complete collection of Prussian artifacts in Brandenburg. Enjoy the tributes to Frederick Wilhelm II, Karl Friedrich Schinkel, Theodor Fontane, and local artists of the 19th century.
Two fascinating sculptures serve as bookends to local history. You will immediately recognize the one of Frederick the Great draped in robes and a tranquil tunic as a 1998 replica of the 1821 original destroyed in World War II. The other is a towering 17-meter humanoid abstract in steel called the Parzival, which symbolizes survival after the reunification of Germany.
If at all possible, don’t miss the Harbor Festival held here each spring, complete with the nation’s largest dragon boat race and a crowd of up to 30,000 visitors. Also try to be around to hear one of the award-winning local choirs perform; they carry on traditions established in the 19th century.
Before you go off on your way, you will want to enjoy the downtown area of Neuruppin. Its many small specialty shops, cafes and restaurants invite you to stroll, take in a show, shop, and dine the day away. Stop for a hot espresso, a sundae or something hearty — there are so many delights to choose from.
