11 Jun Rothenburg ob der Tauber Sightseeings
Rothenburg ob der Tauber Sightseeings
The small medieval town sits loftily on a hill above the Tauber River and is surrounded by a well-preserved city wall. Rothenburg is a center of attraction for people from all over the world and is considered a prototype of a medieval German town, especially abroad. The small romantic streets, which are surrounded by old half-timbered houses, as well as the city wall with its walkable battlements, offer a journey into the past.
During World War II, Rothenburg ob der Tauber was partially destroyed by an American air raid. The successful reconstruction, which took place in the postwar years, provides an important part in the new history of Rothenburg. Since 1950, the town has been one of the highlights on the Romantic Road, the first vacation route in Germany, which stretches from Würzburg to Füssen. Rothenburg is known for its numerous sights as well as museums. In the following section, we will take you on a tour of the city and present some top sights in brief.
Plönlein
The most famous photo motive of Rothenburg is the Plönlein. The street fork in the Untere Schmiedgasse is famous above all for its scenery. The small square with the yellow half-timbered house and fountain is surrounded by pretty houses, the Siebersturm and the Kobolzeller Tor. The leaning half-timbered house on Plönlein also served as a model for one of the buildings in the Disney classic “Pinocchio” from 1940.
Gerlachschmiede
From Plönlein in the direction of the old town center, after a few meters you reach the Wenggasse. The alley is characterized by its colorful houses, which are decorated with flower tendrils. It is a beautiful sight, which invites to a romantic walk through the alley. At the end of the narrow street you finally reach the Gerlachschmiede. The beautiful old half-timbered house was completely destroyed by American air raids in 1945 and then lovingly rebuilt. Until 1967, the forge was active as a blacksmith’s shop, which, however, is now privately owned and not open to tourists. Nevertheless, it is worth a visit and can best be viewed in its full glory from the tower path.
Röderturm
The Röderturm is located directly behind the Gerlachschmiede. It is one of only two accessible observation towers in the city and serves as the central starting point of the Rothenburg Tower Trail, which leads around the old town. The Röderturm was also destroyed by air raids in 1945 and rebuilt. The upper part of the tower houses an exhibition on the destruction and reconstruction of the town. From the Röderturm you have a beautiful view of the old town and the town hall tower.
Tower Trail and St. Wolfgang Church
The Tower Trail, which stretches for 4 kilometers around the old town, not only offers a great view, but also has 22 stations with information about the development of the city’s defenses. For the complete path you should plan 2 to 3 hours. Integrated into the city wall at the Klingentor, you will find the St. Wolfgang Church. It is worth taking a look inside, as the church is part of the city’s fortifications. Inside, you can immerse yourself in the history of the defense system and the wool trade in medieval Rothenburg.
St. Jacob´s Church
Leaving the tower path at the Klingentor, the road leads to the city center, directly to St. Jacob’s Church, which is located in the center of the old town. More than 1000 pilgrims arrive at St. James Church every year. The impressive church was completed in 1485 after 173 years of construction. Inside, two altars, numerous art treasures, 600-year-old stained glass windows and a modern Rieger organ, which is one of the largest in Bavaria, await you.
Market Square and Town Hall Tower
After strolling through the small streets of Rothenburg, you reach the market square with its remarkable town hall in the center of the old town. The viewing platform of the town hall tower, which is 52 meters high, offers a stunning view over Rothenburg, the Tauber valley and the Frankenhöhe. A highlight, which opens on the market square every hour on the hour between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m., is the “Historic Master Drink”. Here, a window of the art clock on the gable of the town hall drinking room opens and Mayor Nusch starts his drink. Next to the town hall is also the marketplace fountain, which was built in 1446 and proud 100,000 liters of water almost.
Herrengasse und Käthe Wohlfahrt German Christmas Museum
From the town hall and market square you can turn into Herrngasse, where you can find the German Christmas Museum and the Herrnbrunnen. This dates back to 1595 and is surrounded by beautiful colorful half-timbered houses. If you follow Herrngasse to its end, you will reach the castle gate, which leads to the castle garden. The former Staufer castle was destroyed by an alleged earthquake in 1356. Today, the “green oasis of Rothenburg” is located on this spot, a beautiful park with a view over the Tauber valley.
Christmas market Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Rothenburg ob der Tauber is not only a popular destination in summer, but also in winter the town enchants its visitors. The Christmas market “Reiterlesmarkt” in the center of the old town, which is open daily during Advent, makes a visit a very special experience. At this time, all the alleys in Rothenburg are festively decorated and treats as well as handicrafts can be purchased at the various stalls. The romantic Christmas market is one of the oldest and most beautiful in all of Germany and should definitely be visited once.
