RATZEBURG, or RATZEMBURG, an ancient town of Germany, in the circle of Lower Saxony, and in the duchy of Lawenburgh, with a bishop's see and a castle. The town depends on the duchy of Lawenburgh, and the cathedral church on that of Ratzburg. It is seated on an eminence, and almost surrounded with a lake 25 miles in length and three in breadth. The Duke of Lawenburgh seized and fortified it in 1689, and the king of Denmark took it in 1693; but it was dismantled, and restored in 1700 to the Duke, who re-fortified it. This town has been frequently pillaged, particularly in 1552, by Francis duke of Saxe Lawenburgh, because the canons refused to elect his son Magnus their bishop. It lies nine miles south of Lubec. This place is noted for its excellent beer. E. Long. 10. 58. N. Lat. 53. 47.