Neuruppin, Fontane's town, on the shore of a long lake.

Neuruppin is a quiet town north-west of Berlin, on the shore of the Ruppiner See, a long, narrow lake. Theodor Fontane was born here in 1819, the writer who walked the March of Brandenburg and described it in his Wanderings, and the architect Schinkel was born here too. After the great fire of 1787 the town was rebuilt with straight streets and broad squares, and today it makes an unhurried day trip: a church on the lake, a well-made town museum, a boat trip and, if you like, a thermal spa.

What to see in a day

The monastery church and the lakeside promenade. The Klosterkirche of the Holy Trinity, from the Dominican convent founded in 1246, raises its two 63-metre towers above the water. In front is the Bollwerk promenade, with a 17-metre steel figure, the Parzival.

The boat on the Ruppiner See. An hour-long round trip with a view of the town from the water, for €15, from the end of March to October. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and some summer Saturdays, the boat continues across five lakes and a lock to the Boltenmühle, in Ruppin Switzerland.

The Neuruppin Museum. The history of the town and its district in a house from 1791 with a new building, including the Neuruppiner Bilderbogen, the colour prints that were made here and sold around half the world. Entry is pay-what-you-like up to €10.

The Fontane trail. His birthplace, the Löwen-Apotheke, on Karl-Marx-Straße; the statue of the writer sitting on a bench; St Mary's Church, now a cultural centre, with an exhibition on the fire of 1787; and the Schinkel monument.

The Tempelgarten. The garden the young Frederick made for himself when he commanded a regiment here, with the Temple of Apollo, the first work by his architect Knobelsdorff.

How do you get there from Berlin?

By train, the RE6 regional leaves Berlin-Charlottenburg every hour towards Wittenberge and stops at Neuruppin Rheinsberger Tor, on the edge of the old town; allow about an hour. At the same station is the tourist office, which also sells boat tickets.

By car, about 75 km along the A24, exit Neuruppin or Neuruppin-Süd, in about an hour. Until July 2027 there are roadworks on the Seedamm: follow the diversions.

How much time do I need?

One day covers the lakeside walk, the one-hour boat, the museum and the Fontane trail. With a night, add the Boltenmühle by boat or an afternoon at the Fontane Therme, with its floating sauna on the lake. Neuruppin combines with Rheinsberg, about 25 km to the north.

Where to eat and sleep

On the lake, the Resort Mark Brandenburg has two restaurants open to everyone: the Parzival, which serves lunch and dinner every day, and the Seewirtschaft, with regional cooking and an open kitchen, which opens at weekends at midday. To sleep in the old town, the Up-Hus-Idyll, in an old medieval hospice.

When to go

From the end of March to October, with daily boats on the lake. In winter the town is quiet, the museum is open five days a week and the spa every day.