Medieval castle ruins in Neuruppin, Brandenburg, Germany.
Ruppin Castle, also known as Planenburg, was a medieval lowland castle in Neuruppin, Brandenburg, Germany. Established around 1200, it served as the political center of the County of Ruppin until the 16th century. The site is now a cultural heritage monument in Germany.
Ruppin Castle, also known as Planenburg, was a medieval lowland castle located in the eastern district of Alt Ruppin in the town of Neuruppin, northwest Brandenburg, Germany. Established around 1200, it served as the political center of the County of Ruppin and later the Ruppin district until the 16th century. The castle was strategically positioned on the Amtswerder peninsula, near the northern end of Ruppiner See, overseeing the transition across the Ruppin lake chain. Initially constructed by German nobles, it became the seat of the Lords of Ruppin, with Count Gebhard von Arnstein being the first recorded lord. The castle remained under the control of the Counts of Lindow-Ruppin until 1524, when it passed to the Elector of Brandenburg. During the Thirty Years' War, the castle began to deteriorate, likely due to fire damage, and by 1779, its last remaining structure collapsed. In 1788, the site was repurposed as a quarry, with its stones used for local construction, including rebuilding Neuruppin after a city fire. Ruppin Castle was one of the largest in the region, featuring a ring wall, numerous round towers, and a chapel, and is now a registered cultural heritage monument.
