Museums in Rothenburg ob der Tauber

four museums worth seeing in Rothenburg ob der Tauber and the surrounding area

Go back in time to the Middle Ages at the Kriminalmuseum Rothenburg ob der Tauber or immerse yourself in the breathtaking Christmas world of Käthe Wohlfahrt even in summer. In this blog post, we reveal to you the four most worthwhile museums around Rothenburg and the surrounding area, which should not be missed during a visit.

Criminal Museum Rothenburg

The Medieval Criminal Museum is the most important legal history museum in Europe. It provides an insight into the last 1000 years of legal history. The exhibition is spread over 6 floors in two buildings and was built with great effort and attention to detail. From original stretching benches to thumbscrews and other torture devices to gallows, shame masks and witchcraft, more than 50,000 exhibits can be viewed in the museum. The old town of Rothenburg illustrates the living space of the people at that time, the medieval crime museum sheds light on the legal conditions under which they lived.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber Kriminalmuseum
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The history vault – museum above the dungeon of Rothenburg

The former dungeon of Rothenburg ob der Tauber is located below the town hall wing, where the legendary mayor Heinrich Toppler once ended up (ca. 1340 to 1408). The underground cells can be visited via the historical vault of the association. The historical festival “The Master’s Drink” shows a selected collection of original weapons, flags as well as uniforms and transforms the history vault back to the time of the Thirty Years’ War. The accompanying exhibition, located above the dungeon, provides further insight into the warfare of the time.

Käthe Wohlfahrts Christmas Museum

On more than 250 square meters, the Käthe Wohlfahrt Christmas Museum sparkles in every corner, all year round. In the museum, which has been in existence since 1981, the history of Christmas as well as various Christmas decorations from the 19th and early 20th centuries can be viewed and experienced. Dive into the year-round permanent exhibition of the Christmas world and let yourself be enchanted by it.

Käthe Wohlfahrt Rothenburg ob der Tauber

The Franconian Open Air Museum

More than 700 years of Franconian everyday history can be viewed at the Franconian Open Air Museum in Bad Windsheim. The 120 buildings, farms, craftsmen’s houses and much more invite visitors to take a journey back in time and discover the past. The museum site shows how the rural population of Franconia built, lived and worked in earlier times. It extends over six assemblies, which are divided according to regions and topics. Twice a year, the open-air museum is transformed into an open-air stage, which attracts culture and theater lovers from all over Germany.