Rothenburg ob der Tauber
An enchanting medieval town in Germany
Rothenburg ob der Tauber is one of the best preserved and most beautiful towns in Germany, and possibly all of Europe. A visit is more than worth it because while there may be heavy crowds, there is also a ridiculous amount of beauty. Rothenburg is part of Germany’s Romantic Road, which goes from Wurzburg all the way down to Neuschwanstein Castle. It’s located in the Franconia region of Bavaria on the Tauber River, fairly close to Nuremberg.
The Plönlein
With an adorable half-timbered house, sandwiched between tall towers and cobblestone streets, The Plönlein makes it the most iconic view in Rothenburg ob der Tauber. “Plönlein” is actually translated as a “small square at a fountain.”
Marktplatz
The Marktplatz – or Market Square – is the main hub of life in the city, and it is lined with great shops, restaurants, and cafes. The Rathaus (town hall) sits right on one side of the Marktplatz.
Ornate hanging signs
Rothenburg is the ultimate walled city adorned with pastel gabled cottages, flowers spilling from window boxes, and wrought iron hanging signs.
Climbing the Rathausturm (Town Hall Tower)
For a 360 degrees view of the town, one has to climb 220 steps starting from the Town Hall’s main door to a viewing platform overlooking Market Square and all of Rothenburg. The views are worth the climb. It was built to serve as watch tower to look for for fires and provide a quick way to communicate with other watch towers.
Rot in German means red like the rooftops of the homes in Rothenburg, Germany.
View of St. Jacob’s Church from the Rathaus viewing platform.
Other sights around the town
The skyline of Rothenburg ob der Tauber.
The Burggarten(Castle Garden) is also in the old town and a perfect place for a stroll or to relax. Though it is called Castle Garden, you cannot expect to find a castle there. The former Stauferburg was destroyed, but the green garden makes up for the lack of the castle.
Getting lost in the old town to discover more colorful views
The dog is real.. the guy gave it a dress with fake hands & guitar. The overall setup was pretty convincing.
The miniatures are as adorable as the real houses
A Schneeball or Schneeballen, snowball in English, is a pastry made from shortcrust pastry and is especially popular in Rothenburg.
From the charming old town itself to the various historic buildings, cobblestone streets, half-timbered houses, and the stoned wall that surrounds the whole town, it’s a remarkable town to discover.