An up-close look at Ribbeck’s famous pear tree

For more than 100 years, school children in Germany have learned the poem Herr von Ribbeck auf Ribbeck im Havelland. They find the story about the noble pear donor very lively – though the length of Fontane’s poem means it’s not easy to learn by heart.
A bicycle tour to the scene of the legend is no problem at all, however. From Nauen the route leads along an old railway embankment to Ribbeck. Here, virtually all questions regarding can be answered regarding the strange pear tree, the local nobility and the balladeer himself – thanks to the exhibition at the restored manor house. The stump of the original tree can even be seen in the church. Today, 16 pear trees grow in front of the castle (in the Deutscher Birnengarten) – one from each German state.
No less exciting are the stories about the rural estate in Groß Behnitz, five kilometres away. Locomotive manufacturer Albert Borsig established a model farm estate here in the 19th century, which today serves as a destination for outings. Feeling refreshed, you can then head back to Nauen.Length: 28 kilometresStart/finish: NauenLogo/route sign: not specifiedHow to get there:Train: From Berlin central station take the RB10 to Nauen (approximately 45 minutes).Car: Take the B5 from Berlin to Nauen (about 1 hour).Route: Nauen, Ribbeck, Groß Behnitz, NauenPoints of interest/background information:Nauen: Historic town centre (with water tower, church etc.)Ribbeck: Manor house, church, Pfarrgarten, Deutscher Birnengarten, Alte SchuleGroß Behnitz: Landgut StoberPossible combinations: Havelland Cycle PathTrail conditions/surface: not specifiedMaps/Literature: "ADFC-Regionalkarte Potsdam Havelland mit Tagestouren-Vorschlägen", 1:75.000, Bielefelder Verlag, Auflage: 6 (1. März 2014), ISBN-13: 978-3870735784, Euro 7.95