Following the traces of Theodor Fontane
“Squire von Ribbeck at Ribbeck in Havelland,
In his garden there stood a pear tree grand,
And when autumn came round, the golden tide,
And pears were glowing far and wide,
Squire von Ribbeck, when noon rang out, would first
Fill both his pockets full to burst.
And then, when a boy in his clogs came there,
He called: ”My lad, do you want a pear?”
He would hail a girl that chanced to pass:
“Come over, I have a pear, little lass!”
This is a famous German poem that is still taught to schoolkids in Brandenburg. If you dig deeper into the poem and its history you learn pretty fast that the town of Ribbeck really exists. If it hadn’t been for a lighting flash that struck the old tree, we could still admire it today. It has been replaced since and can be seen in all its glory today. Not only the tree, but also the castle attract a great number of visitors as it has been restored this year. Ribbeck is only a 50-kilometer drive from Berlin and can be reached easily via the B5. Anyone planning a weekend trip should definitely pop by for a visit!