Rothenburg ob der Tauber is the most attractive town on Germany’s Romantic Road. It looks much the same as it did in the Middle Ages and best to see outside of summer before its medieval walls fill with the crowds. Millions come to see the town every year. We should be visiting Rothenburg in the spring to avoid them.
It is an easy place to see all the attractions since you can do all on foot. If you want to gain a historical perspective of the town, from Easter to December there are 90-minute English daytime tours starting at 2 pm and a 8 pm two hour tour for €6. Tours start in the Marktplatz.
Top Sight to See: The Walls
A medieval wall surrounds the city that you can walk along on top. The walls are more than 2 kilometers or one mile long and you can circumnavigate the city using it. Most of the wall is covered, but a little harder for someone who is taller than six feet tall to walk through. You will have to do some descending to surface streets to do the whole thing and one can enter and leave the wall easily. Take note it can be crowded during the peak tourism season.
- Rödertor (Röder Gate): The Röder Gate is one of the five main gates in the outer town fortifications of Rothenburg. The tower with this gate is one of two that you can go up in. Every Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm the tower is opened and offers a magnificent view of the old town. Admission: Adults €1.50, Children €1
- Galgentor (Gallows Gate): The Gallows Gate got its name, from the gallows that stood outside the gate in the so-called “Little-Head Meadow.” A playground is nearby.
- Klingentor (Klingen Gate): The Klingen Gate is the northern entrance to the town and, along with the fortified Church of St. Wolfgang, forms the fortifications of the Klingen Gate bastion.
- Burgtor (Castle Gate): The fortified castle gate, which was built around 1460, is the western gate system with the highest gate tower of Rothenburg’s town fortifications.
- Kobolzeller Tor (Kobollzell Gate): The place known as Kobolzell, which once lay in the Tauber Valley, lent its name to the Kobolzeller Gate.
- Spitaltor (Spital Gate): “Pax intrantibus, salus exeuntibus”, – “Peace to those who enter, salvation to those who leave,” this is the inscription with which the Spital Gate greets its visitors.
Mittelalterliches Kriminalmuseum (Medieval Crime and Justice Museum)
Tour gives you an idea of the criminal proceedings from investigation to sentencing in the medieval era. You can see exhibits on instruments of torture and punishment including the Iron Maiden medieval torture device and a ducking device.
Hours: April – Oct. daily 10 am – 6 pm; Nov. – March daily 1 pm – 4 pm.
Admission: €5
Address: Burggasse 3-5, 91541 Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany
Reichsstadtmuseum (Imperial City Museum)
See collections of the city of Rothenburg from eight centuries in a former Dominican abbey. See an abbey kitchen, the oldest surviving kitchen in Germany. The museum also has an extensive collection of Judaica that includes an ancient Jewish cemetery.
Hours: April – Oct. 9:30 am – 5:30 pm; Nov. – Dec. 1 pm – 4 pm, Jan.- March, Closed.
Admission: €6, Reduced €5, Family €14, Children under 6 years free.
Address: Mühlacker 1, 91541 Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany
Ratrstrinkstube Clock Tower
Every hour on the hour between 10 am and 10 pm look for doors to open up and reenact the story of a brave mayor of Rothenburg.
Address: Markt 1, 91541 Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany
Franziskanerkirche (Franciscan Church)
It is a Gothic church that has a Franciscan altar (1490), which is an early work by Tilman Riemenschneider. In the eastern choir, you can admire modern glass windows by the artist Johannes Schreiter. There is still an original wooden Lettner – such a rood screen separated the laity from the monks.
Hours: 10 am – 12 noon, and 2 pm – 4 pm, Closed Jan. 1 – end of March.
Admission: Free
Address: 91541 Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany
Jakobskirche (St. Jakob’s Church)
The largest of Rothenburg’s churches built in the 14th century. It is famous for its two altars, one of which–the Heilige Blut or Holy Blood Altar–is a remarkable piece of woodcarving that was built to house a capsule containing what is said to be three drops of Christ’s blood. The church is also noted for its organ and concerts that take place twice a week during the summer.
Hours: Jan. – March, Nov. 10 – 12 noon and 2 pm – 4 pm; April – Oct. 9 am – 5 pm. Dec. 10 am – 4:45 pm.
Admission: Free
Address: Klostergasse 15, 91541 Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany
Rathausturm (Town Hall)
Here you will find the tourist center on the main floor. You can take a staircase that leads to an observation gallery in the tower. The historical archways in them museum and dungeons (entrance in courtyard) are popular to see.
Hours: Daily 9:30 am – 12:30 pm and 1-5 pm; Jan. – March and Nov. Saturday- Sunday 12 noon- 3 pm.
Admission: Tower €2
Address: Marktpl. 1, 91541 Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany
How to get here: The easiest way to arrive is by car. There are large parking lots just outside of town. There is also a Romantic Road bus from Augsburg via Donauworth, Nordlingen and Dinkelsbuhl. You can also take a local train from Augsburg or Nuremberg.
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