Ribbeck im Havelland

Farm and Pear Garden: An Excursion Destination in Brandenburg for the Whole Family

Ribbeck became famous through Fontane’s poem “Herr von Ribbeck auf Ribbeck im Havelland”, which tells the story of the squire Hans-Georg von Ribbeck, who always gave freshly harvested pears to the village children. In fact, almost everything in the small village in Havelland still revolves around this one fruit. A replanting of the legendary pear tree stands today right next to the church built in 1722.

Ribbeck Castle is today the cultural and tourist center of the Havelland district. The neo-baroque building, erected in 1822, was once the residence of the von Ribbeck family. On the occasion of Theodor Fontane’s 200th birthday, the Fontane Museum was opened in 2019, presenting the connections between Fontane, his century, Ribbeck, and the castle’s construction history with state-of-the-art museum technology. We found this particularly nice: even children who have never heard of Fontane are immediately curious.

For the youngest visitors, the Marienhof children’s farm is a particular highlight. The Marienhof children’s farm in Nauen, near Berlin, is a popular destination for families and children who want to experience farm life up close with goats, ponies, chickens, rabbits, and pigs. In addition to animal experiences, Marienhof also offers spacious playgrounds and hands-on activities such as tractor rides, pony rides, and baking or craft workshops.

Those who come in summer should also not miss the corn maze, which is only five minutes away. Afterwards, a stop at the “Altes Waschhaus” (Old Washhouse) is worthwhile, where elderberry-pear, gooseberry-pear, or chocolate-pear tarts are served, along with pear juice and pear schnapps. Nothing goes without a pear in Ribbeck.

Practical Information: Directions, Admission, and Opening Hours

Admission to the castle museum costs 3 Euros, reduced 2 Euros. Children up to 12 years old get in for free. The museum and gastronomy are open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 16:00, closed on Mondays.

Ribbeck is located about 50 km west of Berlin on the B5 — by car, it takes about 45 to 50 minutes from the center of Berlin. Parking facilities on site are good. Since everything is very close to each other, you can simply park your car and comfortably explore everything on foot.