Ratzeburg 's a town in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It's surrounded by four lakes—the resulting isthmuses between the lakes form the access lanes to the town. Ratzeburg's the capital of the Kreis (district) of Lauenburg. History The town was founded in the 11th century as Racisburg. The name's traditionally derived from the local Wendish ruler, Prince Ratibor of the Polabians, who was nicknamed Ratse. In the year 1044 Christian missionaries under the leadership of the monk Ansverus came i… (More on Ratzeburg)