Burg Rabenstein is one of the best-preserved medieval castles in Brandenburg, standing on a wooded hill in the Hoher Fläming, and it looks every bit like a child's picture of a castle: a round keep, stout walls and a pointed roof rising from the trees. It dates back to the twelfth or thirteenth century, and it has been a lookout, a family home, a ruin and, in modern times, a museum and a venue for events. Falconry displays have long been a feature, and the site has an owl and eagle collection that draws families in summer.
The setting is the reason to stop for a photograph. The castle sits above a village, and the approach road climbs in a gentle curve through beech forest, with a view of the walls appearing and disappearing between the trunks. In autumn the leaves turn gold around it, and in winter, with frost on the branches, it looks like something from a fairy tale.
The Hoher Fläming is one of the highest parts of the region, though high is relative: the Hagelberg, the summit of the range, is about two hundred metres, and was the site of a battle in 1813 in which Prussian troops beat a French force. The hills and forests around the castle are criss-crossed by quiet roads, cobbled lanes and avenues of lime and oak, and they are among the most pleasant riding in the area. Surfaces vary, and the cobbles can be slippery when wet.
Niemegk, a smaller town, is closer and has the basics. The castle has a cafe and a small restaurant, though hours vary, so do not rely on it.
The best time is a clear morning on a weekday, when the car park is empty and the light is low on the walls. Walk up to the gate, look at the stonework, and breathe the smell of old wood and damp stone. It is a small journey into the Middle Ages.