Sights of Rothenburg ob der Tauber: photos and description. Rothenburg ob der Tauber: attractions and location on the map of Germany Markplatz Square - Market Square

Rothenburg ob der Tauber in Germany has seen times of prosperity and moments of decline: once the residence of German kings, in the 17th century it turned into an impoverished provincial town. In 1945, Rothenburg ob der Tauber was heavily damaged, but after the end of the war it was almost completely restored. There is no modern building here; all the houses seem to have come out of the paintings of medieval artists. In the appearance of the main architectural attractions of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, two styles met - Gothic and Renaissance, and this made its appearance even more unique. The city has several museums, the exhibitions of which tell about the customs and traditions of its inhabitants, among them is the Museum of the Nativity, which is especially popular during the winter holidays. By the way, according to tourists, Rothenburg ob der Tauber is perhaps the best European city for Christmas and New Year holidays.

Hotels in Rothenburg ob der Tauber each have their own “atmosphere”. Many are located in ancient buildings (such as the local landmark - the Red Rooster Hotel from the 14th century). When choosing a restaurant or tavern, you should pay special attention to the establishments on the Market Square - here you can enjoy not only the food, but also the surrounding environment. In Rothenburg ob der Tauber, it is worth trying spätzle (dumplings with cheese) and Swabian dumplings, Maultaschen, which go well with local beer and wine. They have their own cake - "schneeballen" - shortbread dough balls dipped in chocolate or caramel glaze.

Entertainment and active recreation

One of the most interesting and exciting adventures in Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a trip in a hot air balloon and the opportunity to see this fabulous city from a bird's eye view. An equally popular activity among tourists who come to Rothenburg ob der Tauber is shopping. Here you can buy not only traditional souvenirs with views of the city, New Year’s gifts and Christmas tree decorations, but also stock up on edible “supplies”: Bavarian sausages, “schneeballen”, Swabian wine.

Any German city that receives at least two and a half tourists a year must have a tourist information center. It is always located in the center of the old city, on the main square - as a rule, in the town hall building or a neighboring, no less historical one (in large cities there are usually also information centers at train stations).

In Rothenburg, the information center is located in the former Inn of the Lord Councilors on the Market Square (Marktplatz, 2). In my opinion, this is one of the most beautiful houses in the city, although on the same square there are two more contenders for this title - Marienapotheke, built in the 15th century on the site of the former embassy court of Frederick Barbarossa and the first city hall (cellars from them have been preserved) and the building of the Trade Warehouses of the Butchers' Guild of the same age.

Work schedule
Tourist Information Center Rothenburg

Monday-Friday: 09:00-18:00

Saturday, Sunday, holidays: 10:00-17:00

Monday-Friday: 09:00-17:00

Saturday: 10:00-15:00

Sunday: day off.

Saturdays and Sundays during Advent (four weeks before Christmas): 10:00-17:00

Easter holidays: 10:00-15:00

Actually, everything you need to see in Rothenburg can be easily found in the information center. There you can also take a tour of the city or buy an excellent detailed guide in Russian (or, when preparing for your trip, order it in advance on Amazon.de) - so I will not talk about all the sights of Rothenburg, but will focus only on a few.

1. Tower of St. Mark (Markusturm).

12th century, one of the oldest towers in the city, dating back to the first city wall, which stood before the expansion of the city in the 14th century. The most photogenic place in Rothenburg!

Next to the tower there is an excellent bakery, Brot und Zeit, where you can drink coffee and buy the symbol of Rothenburg - Schneebällen, snowballs, special spherical cookies reminiscent of our brushwood, topped with creamy or chocolate icing. The taste is nothing unusual, but the snowballs are packaged in very nice cylindrical tin cans. The Christmas decoration is especially beautiful - in short, a wonderful souvenir for your nearest and dearest: here you go, Khariton Evpatievich, schneeballen! This is exactly how this word sounds in Russian.

2. Plainline.

A small picturesque square in the southern part of the city. The second contender for the title of the most photogenic place.

Plönline is also good because you have to go to it along the colorful Schmiedgasse (Forge Street) - and here you have the richly decorated house of a city architect (an architect must demonstrate his skills to potential clients), and my favorite sausage shop, and a dark historical past. Kuznechnaya Street runs rather sharply down from the Market Square, on which, during the Peasants' War in 1525, Margrave Casimir of Ansbach executed 17 people who assisted one of the military detachments of the rebellious peasantry. Their heads were cut off, and their corpses were left to lie in the square until the evening in such a way that the blood flowed down the Schmidgasse, to intimidate the townspeople.

On Kuznechnaya Street I once met a real chimney sweep, and according to the sign, the day turned out to be very successful. However, there is a chance of meeting a chimney sweep on any other street - Rothenburg is full of houses with stove heating.

3. Church of Peter and Paul in Detwang.

Detwang is a small village about twenty minutes walk from the city. The history of Rothenburg began with the construction of this church, I have already written about it. On the walls of the church hang incredibly beautiful wooden sculptures made by an unknown medieval artist. I'm not religious at all, but these sculptures fascinate with their simplicity. It is clear that the models were completely ordinary people, the sculptor’s neighbors, and he did not bother embellishing them in any way, did not try to give them holy grandeur. And from this naturalness they turned out to be unearthly and existing outside of time.

I also think that Mary to the right of the altar looks like my youngest daughter, but I think I’m not the only one who recognizes their loved ones in these images.

It is interesting that the main cathedral of Rothenburg - St. James - is decorated with wooden sculptures by the famous master Tilman Riemenschneider (his works are stored in Berlin, Cologne, Stuttgart, Würzburg, Heidelberg), but for some reason they do not make the same impression on me as those that hanging on the walls of a small village church.

Perhaps this is due to the fact that Riemenschneider was not only an artist, but also an official. For twenty years in a row, the sculptor was a member of the Würzburg city council, and was even elected mayor for four years. His works were in great demand, he managed to get rich from them - he owned several houses in Würzburg and vineyards. During the Peasants' War in 1525, when Würzburg was taken by rebels, most of Riemenschneider's property was confiscated. The sculptor-official died in poverty. It was rediscovered only at the end of the 19th century - during the period of the unification of Germany and the accompanying search for codes of self-identification of a new society.

4. Excursion with a night watchman.

A cool option for exploring the city. The tour is conducted by a night watchman dressed in a black cloak and cocked hat, somewhat similar to Makarevich, but not today, but ten years ago. The watchman has a bunch of huge keys on his belt, a lantern with a candle in his hands - everything looks very natural. Before the excursion, the guard takes pictures with everyone - there are usually a lot of people interested. The watchman speaks in a funny, fairy-tale howling voice, reflected in the walls of the houses, jokes a lot, but also gives enough information. The tour lasts about an hour and is conducted twice each evening - once in English, once in German. If you understand at least a little one of these languages, it will be interesting. And it will be colorful in any case!

It is noteworthy that you need to pay for the excursion not before, but after - the watchman takes off his hat and collects six euros per person (in total!). I noticed that some of the people are quietly eliminated in the process, but there are not many of them. I wonder if this payment method would work with us?

5. Museum of the History of Vaulted Halls.

He hid in the courtyard of the town hall, in its old part. At first glance, nothing special: some utensils, flags, mannequins depicting scenes of medieval life. The most important and interesting part of the museum is the two-level authentic underground casemates, where especially dangerous or important criminals awaiting trial or death were kept. It was here, according to legend, that the most famous burgomaster of Rothenburg spent his last months.

While you're descending, you're feeling the full program, and at the exit from the dungeon, an attack of euphoria sets in - freedom! To celebrate, I senselessly bought replicas of ancient coins that were absolutely unnecessary to me.

6. German Christmas Museum.

A huge collection of Christmas tree decorations and all sorts of Christmas symbols from different times. It is especially good for visiting during the Christmas and New Year holidays - you can write a wish on a special piece of paper, stick it and hang it on the Christmas tree - it will definitely come true (tested).

There is a gift shop at the museum - it is expensive, so all New Year and Christmas souvenirs must be bought in a wonderful shop two houses down on the same street.

7. Medieval crime museum.

Collection of torture devices.

What struck me most was that with ingenious torture they punished not only witches, thieves and murderers, but also for other crimes - for grumpiness, talkativeness, drunkenness, and indecent behavior.

I can’t help myself: the professional deformation that is inevitable in the third decade of working in the travel industry helpfully paints in my imagination fascinating pictures from the turbulent life of Moscow-Hurghada charter passengers.

8. City garden.

On the one hand, there is an ordinary park, and also a small one. On the other hand, it is very cozy here among the old thick trees and, in general, the place is historical: it was here, about a thousand years ago, that a red stone castle was built, which marked the beginning of the history of the city and gave it its name.

In addition, the park offers beautiful views of the Tauber Valley, the small Toppler castle, and the village of Detwang. You can also see a picturesque panorama from here, as if especially for photographers of the elongated southern part of Rothenburg - successful photographs are taken in the afternoon. Well, you go back to the city through the most beautiful and ancient city gates.

9. City wall.

A great way to explore the city during the high tourist season in the middle of the day, when the streets are too crowded with tourists and you want to avoid the crowds. You can walk along the wall around almost the entire city. On the way, you should definitely discover in the Blade Tower the Church of St. Wolfgang, hidden from mass tourism, and a tiny museum of shepherd’s dances.

By the way, in Rothenburg there is an unusual way to donate money for the restoration and maintenance of the city - you can rent part of the wall indefinitely. The minimum lot is one meter and costs 1000 euros. For this money, a copper plate with your name will be mounted into the wall. There are almost no vacant plots left!

10. Balloon flight.

I don’t even know what to add - firstly, this is already out of the ranking, I’m just not able to decide where to put this event. And, secondly - yes, this is a real flight, in a real hot air balloon! In the process, the participants have the opportunity to feel like not just rotten passengers who can hardly restrain the urge to urinate, but real balloonists - we, together with the captain and his assistants, prepared the balloon for launch - straightened it, filled it with gas, and so on, at the end of the flight - deflated it and rolled off, continuing to feel the feeling of freedom and admiration experienced during the flight. Then we were initiated into aeronauts. Then we drank champagne. Then we drove back to the city, full of impressions and all sorts of experiences. Then we talked about it all day. And another day. And further.

And then everything gradually smoothed out, was drowned out by everyday life, and we again turned into those born to crawl. But it was - the fabulously beautiful city that let you go for a while, and you, welcoming a new day in the sky above it.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber (Rothenburg ob der Tauber, 11 thousand inhabitants) is a small town in the north-west of Bavaria, which arose in the 11th century, like hundreds of other German towns, around a feudal castle. For the first hundred years, the city was owned by the Count family of Comburg-Rothenburg. Despite the early degeneration of the family, its legacy in the form of six cities founded by them with the same name Rothenburg is still alive. The last of the Rothenburgs bequeathed his lands to the abbey, but the Roman emperor disavowed this will in favor of his nephew Conrad III. As often happened in the Middle Ages, the city experienced rapid development in connection with the election of a local overlord as the king of Germany in 1137 - the royal castle and courtyard attracted cash, human and commodity flows. The king was replaced by his descendants, the dukes, but the initial impulse did its job, and in 1274 Rothenburg received the high status of an imperial free city. The prosperity was brought to an end by the Thirty Years' War, when the Protestant city was captured by the Catholic troops of Field Marshal von Tilly, and the plague epidemic of 1634. Deprived of external and internal sources of development, Rothenburg could no longer rise, but its historical center avoided further reconstruction. If it weren’t for the American rednecks who bombed the city of no military significance in 1945, the medieval ensemble would have been completely untouched.

Rothenburg stands on the so-called The romantic road connects two dozen ancient Bavarian towns and is considered the best on this tourist route. Be careful - this is a toursit trap and a gingerbread city: the number of organized tourists and the animation business here is simply off the charts. So if you come here, then only in the early morning:

The unusually good city plan makes it easy to describe our route. We enter through the north-eastern gate (No. 17), go through to the park (No. 12) past the church (No. 4), return to the geometric center along another street to the town hall (No. 2), turn south to the bastion (No. 28), and from there we return to the starting point along the top of the eastern wall.

I managed to park the car for free, in the shade, and not far from the entrance to the pedestrian zone, so after two minutes I already approached the Galgentor tower (14th century):

Having climbed it, you can walk along the city wall, and after passing under the arch you can get to the Galgengasse street of the same name. Despite its pedestrian status, there is a lot of traffic along it, and tourists are even given rides on horse-drawn carriages:

It is immediately clear that, unlike other German cities, the street development here is homogeneous - apparently, no new houses were built after the 17th century, but only old ones were renovated. On many gables there are still brackets for lifting baskets with things to the upper floors:

The street ends with another tower - the White Tower (Weißer Turm). It is part of the inner ring of walls, late 12th century:

Inside the first ring, the streets narrow. This is Georgengasse, looking back towards the White Tower:

Soon we go to the main city church of St. James. It was built slowly and in stages - from 1311 to 1484, and with the advent of the Reformation, it became Lutheran. The altar part is separated from the main volume not by transepts, but by two towers of slightly different heights:

The three-nave Gothic church is elongated, and up close it only fits into the frame in parts, so we look from afar (from the northern city wall):

The side naves are much lower and shorter than the central one, and the flying buttresses are attached to the wall like suction cups. Last year, the church was completely restored, so it looks like new. To complete the picture, let's look at its southern side, this time close up:

The altar overlooks the small Kirchplatz square, where the Renaissance parish school building (1593) stands out. There are three pairs of sundials on its tower, and inside, obviously, there is a spiral staircase:

In Rothenburg, people are greatly distracted from viewing architectural monuments by animation. There is simply an incredible number of mummers on the streets, staging scenes from supposedly medieval life in literally every home. Here, at the apse, stood either a duke or simply a noble hunter:

And at the portal of the church school, the Atlanteans are obscured by two peasants fighting with pillows:

They don’t ask for money for performances, but they sell some souvenirs everywhere. Green Market Square, facing the backyard of the town hall:

We go further along Klostergasse, named after the Dominican monastery that operated here in the 13th-16th centuries. I looked into his yard, but didn’t find anything photogenic. But on the street itself a working bracket with a basket was found:

We approach the western gate of the city, which is guarded by the tall Burgtor tower. It was here, on a high hill near a bend in the river, that the original fortress was located, destroyed by an earthquake back in the 14th century. Its bastion was then included in the system of city fortifications:

Under the arch we go beyond the city walls. In the west, the hill drops steeply towards the river, so it is not entirely clear why the gate was built on the outside:

On the left side of the complex, the fortress walls look truly ancient:

Not even the ruins of the former castle remain, and a beautiful park has been laid out in its place:

In the shadow of the fortress walls, another group of animators is waiting for their turn, drinking beer in their spare time:

And we will admire the panorama of the surrounding area, opening from the parapet of the park. In the northwest is the green Tauber Valley; somewhere beyond the distant ridge of hills lies the border of Bavaria and Württemberg:

On the opposite side, a neat (all roofs are the same height) line of houses in the long southern branch of the old city is clearly visible:

We will gradually head there, but first we will return to the city and walk along Herrngasse. After 200 meters, we look back (do you recognize the Burgtor tower in the background?).

On this street there is another Gothic church - the Franciskanerkirche (1285), named in memory of the former convent. By the time the reformers arrived, the monastery had already fallen into disrepair and was taken over by the Lutherans without a fight.

All the houses in Herrngasse are from the 15th century and older, but some facades have since been updated, for example, they have acquired half-timbered decor, like this house on the north side:

To the right is a former bakery, on the pediment of which we notice the Baroque style for the first time in this city. And even further to the right is the 60-meter tower of the old town hall. We go out to the Town Hall, or rather, to the Market Square:

The size of the town hall alone suggests that Rothenburg played a significant role in medieval Germany. An attentive reader can find several architectural styles in the town hall complex - Gothic in the tower (1286), Renaissance in the main building (1578), Baroque in its arched gallery and corner bay window (1681).

The German name of the building on the right in the picture (1446) - Ratstrinkstube - literally translated means "town hall beer hall". Experts in German can correct me, maybe this is the popular name for the reception hall?

The northern side of the Market is formed by rich Gothic houses of the 15th century without significant alterations of the facades:

But in the southern corner there is a half-timbered couple:

This is also the 15th century with an even more ancient base, and the age of the fountain with lions is also impressive - 1608. But the combination of functions of these buildings blows your mind: imagine the close proximity of a slaughterhouse and a dance hall with a theater!

To the east is the pretty street Hafengasse, leading to the Markusturm tower. Like the White Tower, which we saw at the beginning of the walk, this one limits the inner core of the 12th century city - behind it there will be a few more blocks to the outer wall:

But our further path lies to the south, along the longest street, which changes its name three times along the way. Its initial part is called Upper Schmidgasse, in honor of the blacksmiths' guild. And the hitherto quiet gentlemen buffoons turned on the noise design:

There is also a Catholic Church in Rothenburg, St. John, or simply Johanniskirche (1410):

After 200 meters, an interesting fork is discovered: to the left, the main street passes through the Sieberstor tower (in this part - Plönlein), and to the right, the “street of goblins” - Koboldzellersteig - descends, above which there is also a tower (Koboldzeller Tor), only half a level lower. This postcard view of Plönlein turns out to be one of the most popular in all of Germany:

Both towers were erected at the end of the 14th century, which means that the gates of the inner core in this direction have not been preserved, and we have already reached the border of the outer city. Excuse me, but the old city does not end behind these towers - a decent-sized appendix still stretches to the south. We conclude that the city expanded after the 14th century, although not on such a large scale.

And here is confirmation of our hypothesis - huge houses in the Renaissance style at the very end of the street (16th century, of course):

In this part the street is called Hospital. Which of these buildings do you think served as a hospital? That's right - closest, because the hospital church was usually located nearby. “The church is older - it’s Gothic,” you will say, and you will be right: the Church of the Holy Spirit was built in 1308 and at first stood far outside the city wall (too lazy to look, but obviously there was some kind of monastery here). During the Reformation, it became Lutheran, and with the construction of the hospital it was assigned to it.

But the distant building used to serve as a stable - another example of non-compliance with hygiene rules in the Middle Ages :) Well, this whole complex is completed by the Spitaltor - Hospital Bastion (1556):

There are many entrances and exits inside his baby. Having entered one of them, I tried to go upstairs and go further along the covered gallery of the city wall, but I got hopelessly lost, and had to move down along the wall for some time:

On the approach to the eastern gate we came across the most gingerbread house in all of Bavaria - Gerlachschmiede, i.e. house of a blacksmith from Gerlach (the forge operated here until the mid-20th century):

I finally managed to climb the Rödertor tower, and then filmed from the heights of the fortress walls:

Do you recognize the asymmetrical belfries? These are the spiers of the already familiar St. James Church, and to the right is the White Tower. And now we have already reached the starting point - Galgentor,

but it’s too early to go down - you can look at the city from the north side. The same objects plus the town hall tower:

Looking back towards Galgentor. It is noticeable that most of the houses are oriented the same way - they look beautiful and harmonious:

Another symphony of roofs with the White Tower:

I accidentally looked through the narrow loophole to the opposite (northern) side and suddenly saw a very impressive house:

This is the building of the former imperial city gymnasium (now vocational school), neo-Renaissance, 1914. It turns out that in stagnant times the city received some things.

I'm going back. While I was walking, the mummered knights, apparently tired of entertaining the public for free, moved to the city gates to collect tribute, not only from motorists, but also from pedestrians. I'm not kidding!

However, they didn’t take any money for leaving, and I went home. I was generally pleased with the excursion - despite some excesses, the city retained its stylish appearance. On the other hand, Rothenburg clearly lacks real content, which no animation can replace - after all, in lively and dynamic cities (for example, such as Bamberg or Regensburg) there is no need to additionally entertain tourists. So you can look here along the way, but nothing more.

There is a city in Germany that will enchant you and completely immerse you in the atmosphere of Anderson’s wonderful fairy tales.

This city, built above the Tauber River valley at the intersection of the Romantic Road and the Fortress Road, with “gingerbread” houses with “chocolate” roofs nestled along cozy streets, has an unusual name - Rothenburg ob der Tauber, which translated from German means “ the red castle above the Tauber."

History of Rothenburg

Rothenburg was first mentioned in historical sources in the ninth century. In 1142, the imperial castle Kaiserburg was built on the right bank of the calm Tauber River, and this construction gave impetus to the rapid development of the city. In the thirteenth century, Rothenburg received the Free Charter and acquired the status of a free imperial city, but the “fairy-tale” city reached its highest peak in the fourteenth century. The Thirty Years' War of the fifteenth century dealt a crushing blow to the city - it was severely destroyed, only memories remained of its former power, and then Rothenburg fell under the protection of Bavaria. The old days, when battles took place on the banks of the Main and its tributaries, are evidenced by the fortress wall that has survived to this day with watchtowers, which “embraces” Rothenburg with a stone ring, and tourists are especially impressed by the powerful bastion of Spitalbastei.

During the Second World War, aerial bombing did not bring significant harm to the city, and today guests of Rothenburg can enjoy the medieval appearance of this museum city.

City-museum

Rothenburg is interesting because it respects the traditions that have developed during its existence. Every evening, a black-robed night guard appears in the city square, holding a halberd and a lamp in his hands, and sedately makes his nightly rounds under the cover of twilight.

For costume parties, which are held in Rothenburg several times a year, when residents dress up in ancient clothes and temporarily become artisans, soldiers, shopkeepers and merchants, the city authorities created the most authentic “scenery” for the medieval appearance of Rothenburg, prohibiting the placement of such attributes in the city modernity, like billboards and telephone booths. It is noteworthy that the design of the signs of shops, hotels, and restaurants corresponds to the signs of times distant from today.

Tourists who have visited the “fairy-tale” city recommend starting their excursion from its market square, where the Gothic town hall was built in the fifteenth century.

Town Hall

Although the town hall is called Gothic in many tourist guides, its architectural appearance combines Renaissance and Gothic styles. From the Town Hall, a wonderful panorama of the Tauber Valley opens before the eyes of tourists, which evokes a peaceful and calm mood, but it completely disappears if you examine the exhibition displayed in the basement of the Town Hall by the Museum of Medieval Criminal Law.

Here tourists can be horrified by the tools that served to carry out medieval torture and toughen public punishments. In the twelfth to the eighteenth centuries, legal social relations were strengthened by wooden “collars”, “drunken barrels” in which drinkers were walled up, chairs studded with thorns, chastity belts, masks of shame made of metal in the shape of a pig’s snout and other unpleasant things. In this basement there was a dungeon in the Middle Ages, where unfortunate townspeople were imprisoned for minor offenses.

Spirit of Christmas in Rothenburg

Rothenburg is the only city on German soil where Christmas toys and souvenirs can be bought at any time of the year, and this place, full of Christmas spirit, is called the “Christmas Village”. "Christmas Village" consists of five ancient architecture houses. It houses a small Museum of the Nativity, which has no analogues in the world, and a store, Käthe Wohlfahrt, selling Christmas decorations. At the entrance to the store, a decorated spruce tree sparkles with lights. The museum has in its fabulous collection more than five thousand exhibits of different design and nature. Among the Christmas tree decorations, Russian tourists will also see items made in the USSR. Tourists in the store of Christmas tree decorations and Christmas souvenirs fill a whole basket, which contains figurines of Santa Clauses, St. Nicholas, glowing angels, houses and holiday boxes, because it is impossible to resist shopping and the New Year's mood captures all visitors to Käthe Wohlfahrt.

St. Jacob's Church

The city of Rothenburg is small, and to the delight of tourists, all the attractions of these places are close to each other. Likewise, the main temple of Rothenburg, the Church of St. Jacob, is located next to the market square. The ancient, fourteenth-century church is decorated with rich, interesting carvings, altars and stained glass windows. Of great interest is the “Altar of the Blood of the Lord,” which was created by the famous woodcarver Tilman Riemenschneider.

Museum of Local Lore

Although the museum has a small collection, medieval weapons, armor and artifacts valued in the Middle Ages, housed in the chambers of a convent that was located within these walls, arouse genuine interest among its visitors.

"Fortress Park"

If you move south along the fortress wall, the road will lead to Burggarten, built by Conrad II, emperor from the Hohenstaufen dynasty. Now there is a city park rustling with foliage and of the ancient buildings, only the beautiful chapel dedicated to St. Blaise has been preserved. From the parapet of the park, tourists have wonderful views of the valleys and hills surrounding the city.

Plönlein quarter

The Plönlein quarter cannot be called anything other than delightful. Here, in a cozy café, you can try the townspeople’s favorite delicacy – “snowballs” – a ball of dough filled with chocolate, nuts and sprinkled with powdered sugar, plunging the taster into an amazing world of sweet taste.

Other attractions of Rothenburg

The medieval cuisine of the monasteries has been completely preserved in the Dominican monastery, built in the thirteenth century. Many ancient things of various purposes can be seen within the walls of this monastery.

You can get acquainted with the life of medieval craftsmen in the Old Rotenburg Craftsman's House, and in the Museum of Dolls, tourists will see eight hundred different toys that were created over the course of two hundred years by the skillful hands of artisans in France and Germany.

By the way, in the city of Rothenburg ob der Tauber there is a Leyk store where they sell hand-made small houses in which you can put a candle, turning these wonderful things into candlesticks. The store has an exhibition of houses that are made with small mistakes, and these wonderful houses are sold at a significant discount.

Where to stay

There are enough hotels in the city of Rothenburg ob der Tauber for all visiting guests. For example, the Hotel Herrnschloesschen is located in one of the oldest buildings in the city. It has a baroque garden, a chic restaurant and a sauna. The approximate cost of a room for one night is 9,500 rubles. Hotel Spitzweg is a quiet, relaxing family hotel, the prices of which are not particularly high - about 5,000 rubles per night. The four-star Historik Hotel Gotisches Haus garni is located right in the city park. Here tourists will be offered rooms decorated in the Gothic style, where all modern amenities are provided for the comfort of guests. A room in this hotel costs 5,500 rubles.

How to get to Rothenburg

Rothenburg ob der Tauber is located in Bavaria and can be reached by train from any German city. If you use personal vehicles, you need to take the A7 and A6 highways.

The best time to visit Rothenburg ob der Tauber is from May to September. Winters are cool here, and summers are hot, with temperatures above +30 °C.

Rothenburg has a glorious history: it was once the pride of Franconia and was considered a center of trade. Gradually the city turned into a corner of comfort. Today, only 12 thousand residents live in Rothenburg. The area of ​​its territory is small - a little more than 40 km². But it is still noisy here, because every year 2 million tourists visit the village. According to statistics, it is the third most visited city in Germany. First of all, guests from Japan and China are interested in Rothenburg ob der Tauber.

Rothenburg's popularity is due to its favorable location. The city is located at the intersection of the most popular routes for tourists - the Romantic Route and the Road of Castles. The view of Rothenburg is impressive - it seems that it rises above the Tauber River valley. No wonder the name of the city is translated as “fortress over the river.”

History of Rothenburg ob der Tauber

The first houses in this area appeared in 960. Two centuries later, a fortress was built, and then the settlement of Rothenburg arose. The geographical location of the city played into the hands of local residents. Rothenburg ob der Tauber became a center of trade, quickly developed and prospered. In the 13th century, the locality was given the status of a “free imperial city.” This meant that the local people were directly subordinate to the king.

In the 14th century, the fortress was destroyed due to an earthquake, but this did not prevent the further development of the city. At the beginning of the 15th century, the number of residents exceeded six thousand - this was the “Golden Age” of Rothenburg. The subsequent history of the town is sad. During the Thirty Years' War, the settlement was occupied several times. The heyday gave way to decline. After this, the city seemed to fall into a sleep - it did not develop, lost its significance, but managed to maintain its original medieval appearance.

In the 19th century, Rothenburg became part of Bavaria. When Germany became unified, the settlement attracted the interest of tourists. Rothenburg ob der Tauber had to endure difficult times during the Second World War. About 40% of buildings were destroyed due to bombs. The eastern, new part of the Old City suffered. Fortunately, the most important landmarks survived and the residents rebuilt the center of Rothenburg. The Americans helped restore the buildings - memorial plaques on the walls remind us of this.

The ancient spirit of Rothenburg

Rothenburg ob der Tauber is protected from adversity by the city wall. Its length is quite large - 3 km. You can walk along the city walls and walk around the entire perimeter of the settlement. The fortress is complemented by turrets, some of which were erected in the 12th century.

Guests enter through the gate, which is considered a landmark in itself. If you move from the railway station, you need to go through the 14th century gate. But in beauty they are inferior to the Castle Gate, which is also called the Eastern Gate. The path through them leads to a city park located on a cliff. When passing through the gate, you should raise your head and look for the mask - through it, tar was poured onto the attackers of Rothenburg. The castle itself has not survived.

Other buildings of the ancient town also proved to be beyond the control of time. Tourists admire the powerful fortress wall, ancient paving stones, and narrow streets. The houses match - quaint, with neat facades. Almost all of them are half-timbered - this is the name of the technology that developed back in the 15th century in Germany. The buildings have almost no load-bearing walls, only a frame made of horizontal and vertical elements. The space between the beams is filled with different materials: stone, brick, wood. Since there is no load on the walls, they can be removed and rebuilt as desired. This allows you to organize the space inside the house in a new way.

The walls of the buildings in Rothenburg ob der Tauber are snow-white and decorated with ornaments. The balconies and windows are decorated with flowers. You can walk around the entire city, but still not find a single modern building, but you can fully feel the atmosphere of the Middle Ages and comfort. Thanks to its “classic” appearance, Rothenburg is often chosen as a film location. Usually films about Germany or the Middle Ages are shot here. The last part of Harry Potter was even created in Rothenburg ob der Tauber.

The pride of the “fortress above the river”

Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a small town. Just ten minutes - and tourists find themselves in the very center, on the Market Square. The town hall is here. It differs in color - the snow-white part is adjacent to the brown one. One half of it is a medieval Franconian building, the other is an ancient tower. The height of the town hall is 60 meters. You can go up to the observation deck and admire the view of the peaceful German town. There is an entrance fee, but it is inexpensive. You can safely pass the turnstile and climb the steps of a narrow and steep staircase. They pay at the very top.

To the right, near the town hall, is a building with an intricate doll clock. It's worth taking a look at the "masterful sip" here. The clock shows the doll emptying a large goblet of wine twice a day. It is believed that the original decoration was created in memory of the burgomaster of Rothenburg. At the beginning of the 17th century, during the Thirty Years' War, the city was captured. An unpleasant fate awaited him - the enemies were going to completely destroy and burn Rothenburg. The invaders mockingly promised that they would not touch the territory under one condition. The local burgomaster Nush had to drain a huge goblet of wine - 3.5 liters - in one sip. The head of the city coped with the task.

There is an old diner near the town hall. It was created during the heyday of Rothenburg, in the 15th century. Around the square there are various cafes, shops with souvenirs, and shops. All the most significant events take place on the Market Square: festivities, theatrical performances, seasonal markets.

Another local pride is the Church of St. James. Since the 14th century, the temple has been “protecting” the city. Tourists admire the carved wooden altar. It is believed that the cross contains rock crystal capsules that were used at the Last Supper. Stained glass windows create a special atmosphere in the church, turning the interior space into a work of art.

After exploring the main attractions of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, you can take a break and stroll through the city park. On its territory there is a small hill from where a panorama of the surrounding area opens up. You can see houses with red roofs, and the surrounding greenery of the trees emphasizes their beauty. The park gates and the ancient well of St. George have been preserved.

Museums Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Rothenburg is not only a “time machine”, it is considered a “city of artists”. You can easily verify this by walking through museums. Interesting exhibitions include the Nativity Exhibition and the Crime Museum of the Middle Ages. It is worth exploring local art or learning about the wild customs of medieval society. The museum of the imperial city contains a collection of ancient objects: furniture, sculptures and paintings, tools and even toys. The building itself where the collection is kept is also interesting - it is a convent of the 13th century.

There are always a lot of tourists at the Museum of Medieval Forensics in Rothenburg. The collection includes an assortment of different types of punishments from the 12th to 18th centuries. Chastity belts, chairs with spikes, metal masks of shame in the shape of a pig's snout - the most sophisticated methods were found to torture and shame citizens. Even documents about the process of torture of witches have been preserved.

After the horrors of the Forensic Science Museum, you can look into the Old Rotenburg Craftsman's House, where a completely different atmosphere reigns. The building has been in operation since the 13th century. At first, various craftsmen lived in it: coopers, basket makers, soap makers... A hermit who did not recognize the benefits of civilization also called it his home. He did not provide any plumbing or electricity. Today the museum consists of 11 rooms reproducing ancient furnishings. There is an apprentice's closet, a kitchen with an open window, and a well inside the house for water.

Eternal Christmas

In Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Christmas is revered and remembered throughout the year. Opposite the town hall there is a Christmas museum. At the door there is a large sleigh with gifts. The showcase is decorated with festive garlands. On the street near the building, Christmas carols are constantly sung. The museum unites five houses in the Bavarian style. There is a festive atmosphere inside. Santa Claus and reindeer, Christmas trees and toys - the products are made of different materials. The collection includes vintage postcards. The museum has a toy store where you can shop with significant discounts in the summer. Near the houses, a five-meter spruce tree peacefully “watches” what is happening.

One of the fabulous places in Rothenburg ob der Tauber is the doll museum. Here is a collection of toys created by German and French masters. There is also a shop in town that sells Teddy bears. At Christmas, Rothenburg hosts festive markets, brass bands fill the streets with music, and theatrical performances and dances are held. You can join a tour through the mysterious nooks and crannies of Rothenburg.

Time for fun

Residents of Rothenburg ob der Tauber liven up their lives with more than just the Christmas spirit. Every year costume parties are held. The townspeople try on ancient clothes and figure out their roles - merchants, artisans, horsemen, musketeers. The events are dedicated to the Thirty Years' War, which significantly changed the fate of the German city. An obligatory figure of the holiday is the burgomaster, who must drink wine from a goblet and stand on his feet. Even the name of the celebration is appropriate - “Mastery Sip”. After draining the cup, local residents loudly shout the phrase “The city is saved!” and rejoice. Similar theatrical celebrations are held several times a year. The walk takes place on a large scale, covering different venues, but the most significant event in Rothenburg ob der Tauber is held on Whitsunday.

The townspeople are sensitive to old traditions and revere them sacredly. On the holidays of Trinity and Easter you can enjoy shepherd dances. The tradition has come down from the time of the plague. So the cattle drivers tried to ward off the disease from the city. At the end of September, a vibrant city festival takes place. The history of Rothenburg is “brought to life” with the help of costume plays and processions, and even Medieval trials are re-enacted. When it gets dark, residents and visitors of the city are treated to volleys of fireworks.

Another tradition is the night guard walking around the fortress every day. A man dressed in black carries a lamp and a halberd. First it goes around the Old Town, ending at the Market Square. The position of Rothenburg guard remained as a reminder of the past - he has no duties other than patrolling.

Shopping in Rothenburg

There are no skyscrapers or large shopping complexes in this German city, but in many houses there are small souvenir shops, clothing boutiques and jewelry stores. Most buildings with brisk trade have metal signs hanging on them. In the past, Rothenburg merchants used them to stand out from the gray crowd. This was one of the first forms of advertising. In the passage under the town hall you can stroll through the flea market and look at antiques.

You can buy a Teddy bear as a gift - toys of different sizes are sold at your local store. The Christmas decoration shop is also worth buying something as a souvenir, even if it’s summer. In Rothenburg, tourists buy copies of medieval armor and weapons - men are primarily interested in this.

Local delicacies

The delicacy of Rothenburg ob der Tauber is considered to be “snowballs” – “schneebal”. This is a bun cake, which is created from shortcrust pastry according to an old recipe. It is sold everywhere: in cafes, bakeries, shops and even in souvenir shops. They will please even the discerning tourist, because cookies are made in different variations - with powder, glaze, chocolate, cinnamon. It is worth trying different types of bread and local wine, which is bottled in special shapes.

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How to get there

Traditionally, tourists include a visit to Rothenburg ob der Tauber in the program of their trip to Bavaria or Germany in general. It will not be possible to fly to this city directly from Russia, since Rothenburg does not have its own airport. But there are more than a dozen flights daily from Moscow and St. Petersburg to Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Munich and Nuremberg. The main air carriers are Aeroflot and S7, as well as their foreign partners. The flight will take about 3 hours, and then from each of the four neighboring cities Rothenburg can be easily reached by car or train.

By car, be prepared to cover the following distances: from Stuttgart – 165 km, from Frankfurt – 185 km, from Munich – 245 km, if you count from the airports. The journey along the German autobahns will take no more than 2–2.5 hours; stay on the A7 highway. After the exit "Rothenburg/Tauber" - 2 km to the Old Town. A more attractive option seems to be a trip from Nuremberg, only 80 km, but it is worth keeping in mind that you can only fly to this city from Russia with a transfer.

You can park your car near the walls of the Old City - there are five parking areas. Two of them are free – P5 and partially P4. They are located in the northeast of the town. You can’t get into the center of Rothenburg by car on a weekend - access is only open to local residents. On weekdays the passage is closed from 11:00 to 16:00, and then from 19:00 to 5:00. Entry is free for hotel guests.

You can get to Rothenburg ob der Tauber by train using the RB regional train network. From the central stations of Munich, Stuttgart and Frankfurt, trains to Rothenburg depart every 30-40 minutes. Trains depart from Nuremberg a little less frequently, about once an hour. Travel times vary depending on the type of train, so the journey from any city listed will take approximately 2.5 to 3.5 hours. You can get to the cozy German city through Wurzburg. By train - about an hour. Excursion bus tours from Prague or Munich with Russian-speaking guides are also organized to Rothenburg.

The city's territory is small, so there is no need for public transport. You can travel on foot or rent a bicycle from one of the hotels. For complete immersion in the ancient atmosphere, tourists are offered a ride on a horse-drawn cart.

They are ready to provide guests with information on site - it is provided at the tourist center located on the main street of Rothenburg. Travelers are offered booklets in Russian - with information about the city, a map, and a list of hotels. You can also find out about upcoming city holidays at the office.