Neubrandenburg is a small city in the lake district of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, best known for its remarkably complete medieval city wall. The brick wall, dating from the thirteenth century, still encircles the old town almost entirely, punctuated by four elaborately decorated Gothic gates — the Treptower Tor, Stargarder Tor, Friedländer Tor, and Neues Tor — that are among the finest of their kind in northern Germany.
The city was heavily damaged in 1945 and much of the centre was rebuilt in GDR-era concrete blocks, giving it a stark contrast between the medieval fortifications and the socialist architecture within. The Konzertkirche, a ruined Gothic church rebuilt as a modern concert hall, is a striking example of this layered history. Lake Tollensesee, just south of the city, is a long glacial lake with beaches, sailing, and a cycling path around its shore. Neubrandenburg makes a useful stop when exploring the Mecklenburg Lake District.