Rothenberg ob der Tauber, walking through a fairy tale book
When you walk into Rothenberg ob der Tauber, it's like walking into a medieval fairytale. Walking the cobbled streets of Rothenberg ob der Tauber is like turning a new page of the fairy tale book at every corner.
Rothenberg ob der Tauber is a village that was founded in the 13th century. And everything is perfectly preserved in this medieval village. There are several hotels that are no less than 800 years old. Everything about this village takes you back to the Middle Ages. It is absolutely certain that you will be enchanted by the magical atmosphere of Rothenberg ob der Tauber. Rothenberg ob der Tauber is really just a big postcard.
Unfortunately, this place has already been discovered by the large hordes of tourists. Especially during the day it is very busy here during the summer months. So it is actually best to book a hotel for 1 or 2 nights. In the evening and in the morning it is not so busy with day trippers and you have Rothenberg ob der Tauber almost to yourself and you can explore the beautiful streets of this city in a peaceful way.
How to go to Rothenberg ob der Tauber
Rothenberg ob der Tauber is a completely walled city. To enter the city you will have to drive through one of the gates in this city wall. The streets in Rothenberg ob der Tauber are quite narrow, so we would only recommend driving within the city walls if you have booked a hotel within these walls.
If you want to visit Rothenberg ob der Tauber for a day, we therefore recommend that you park your car outside the city walls. Rothenberg ob der Tauber is not that big. You can therefore easily explore this city on foot, if you are parked outside the city walls.
How much time do you need to explore Rothenberg ob der Tauber?
Rothenberg ob der Tauber is not a big city. You can easily see this city in a day. However, Rothenberg ob der Tauber is a real tourist attraction and the cute streets are full of tourists during the day. We therefore recommend that you book at least an overnight stay in Rothenberg ob der Tauber. When the day trippers have left, you can explore the city in peace during the evenings or in the morning.
When is the best time to visit Rothenberg ob der Tauber?
During the summer months it can get very crowded with tourists in Rothenberg ob der Tauber. Especially during the day, the streets are completely filled with day trippers. We therefore recommend that you visit Rothenberg ob der Tauber during the low season, in spring or autumn.
If your only option is to visit Rothenberg ob der Tauber in the busy summer months, we recommend arriving in Rothenberg ob der Tauber early in the morning. Most day trippers don't come until later, so during the morning hours you can still wander through the streets of this city.
Please also note that many shops in Rothenberg ob der Tauber are closed on Sundays. Since the nice shops only add to the charm of this village, we advise you not to go to Rothenberg ob der Tauber on Sundays.
A Brief History of Rothenberg ob der Tauber
The history of Rothenberg ob der Tauber goes all the way back to the 13th century. During the 15th century, Rothenberg ob der Tauber was one of the largest cities in Germany. But with the outbreak of the plague and the 30-year war, the population of Rothenberg ob der Tauber was severely depleted. Population growth stopped and Rothenberg became the village it is today.
During the Second World War Rothenberg ob der Tauber was also the target of bombing. But that day the weather was bad. It was very foggy and cloudy, causing most of the bombs to miss the main targets.
Later that week, the Americans would return to finish the destruction of Rothenberg ob der Tauber. But according to stories, it was an American general who was able to prevent the destruction of this city. Although he had never been to Rothenberg ob der Tauber himself, he had heard about this special place from his mother, who had told him stories and showed him paintings.
He therefore decided to make a deal with the Germans to spare this village. If all the Nazis left the village, the Americans would stop bombing Rothenberg ob der Tauber.
That is why Rothenberg ob der Tauber has remained virtually unchanged since the 17th century. Time has really stood still in this city. And when you walk through the streets of Rothenberg ob der Tauber, it really is like going back in history.
What to do in Rothenberg ob der Tauber?
The best thing to do in Rothenberg ob der Tauber is of course just strolling through the idyllic streets of the old town. The beautiful, different facades of the old houses are all beautiful and unique. But there are a number of places and activities that deserve some extra attention in this blog.
Visit Rothenberg ob der Tauber's most famous site, Plönlein
When you enter Rothenberg ob der Tauber on Google, Plönlein is the place you will see most for the pictures. It is therefore one of the most famous places in Rothenberg ob der Tauber. A place where you should definitely take a picture when you visit this city. Unfortunately, it is also one of the busiest photo spots in Rothenberg ob der Tauber. To take a picture here without other people, you will have to be at Plönlein early.
Walk the city walls of Rothenberg ob der Tauber
Rothenberg ob der Tauber is completely surrounded by a long city wall. And you can still walk on this city wall. At various places along this wall you will find stairs to climb the city wall. When you walk the walls, you can see Rothenberg ob der Tauber from a different point of view and perhaps discover places that you had not yet seen during your walk through the city. Moreover, you really pass the houses of the inhabitants of Rothenberg ob der Tauber and you see how people live in this nice town. An extra nice thing about this is that you can walk on these city walls completely free of charge.
Discover Rothenberg ob der Tauber in the evening with a Night watchmen tour
The Night Watchmen tour is an absolute must when you visit Rothenberg ob der Tauber in the evening. You do not need to book tickets in advance, but can simply go to the meeting point in the market square. At 8 pm in the evening this tour starts through the streets of Rothenberg ob der Tauber. During this tour you will be told everything about the history of this city in a fun way. But you also learn everything about the people and customs of this city over the years. Even if you're not particularly interested in history lessons, it's still a really fun tour to do. The Night watchmen bring their story full of humor and take you to places that you might not have found yourself.
Visit the Medieval Crime Museum in Rothenberg ob der Tauber
The Medieval Crime museum is a bit of a gruesome activity in Rothenberg ob der Tauber. Here you can learn all about the punishment and torture methods used in Rothenberg ob der Tauber during the Middle Ages. The subject is therefore already a bit sinister, but that feeling is only reinforced by the design of the museum. The rooms with the different torture methods are poorly lit and that gives everything to this museum a bit of a scary look. Definitely a unique museum and interesting even for the tourist who doesn't like a museum.
Have a picnic in Burggarten
Lying on the edge of Rothenberg ob der Tauber, you look out over the green hills that surround Rothenberg ob der Tauber. Tourists usually skip this place. So when you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, this is the perfect place to go. Because not only Rothenberg ob der Tauber is beautiful, the surroundings of the city are also particularly beautiful. Burggarten is a really lovely place for an afternoon picnic.
Visit the various filming locations in Rothenberg ob der Tauber
Rothenberg ob der Tauber has already appeared in several films. And of course we completely understand that, because this village is a real-life film set. For example, one of the first famous movies filmed here is the 1968 movie Chitty Bang Bang. You can also admire Rothenberg ob der Tauber in the last two films of Harry Potter. Although it looks a lot scarier in these movies than it actually is. Perhaps the most famous film in which you can see Rothenberg ob der Tauber is Pinoccio. Although you cannot literally see Rothenberg ob der Tauber in Pinoccio, the village in which Pinoccio grew up is completely based on this city.
Go Christmas shopping in Rothenberg ob der Tauber
Christmas shopping I hear you think… Yes, Christmas shopping! And I don't mean in the month of December, but just throughout the year. Rothenberg ob der Tauber has the best Christmas shops that are open all year round. The Christmas shops at Rothenberg ob der Tauber are really all beautiful and even if you're not looking for Christmas stuff at all, they're still great to walk through. Although we are willing to bet that you will leave Rothenberg der Tauber with at least 1 Christmas decoration.
Eat a Schneeball in Rothenberg ob der Tauber
One of the must-try things when you visit Rothenberg ob der Tauber is a Schneeball. This delicacy goes all the way back to the 17th century. You can also find this pastry at various bakers Rothenberg ob der Tauber. You can eat a glazed Schneeball, a powdered Schneeball, or a stuffed Schneeball.
Rothenberg ob der Tauber, the most beautiful stop of the Romantic Route
Rothenberg op der Tauber is part of the Romantic Route through Germany that takes you past even more beautiful villages, such as Rothenberg ob der Tauber. Each and every one of them are beautiful villages, all of which would not look out of place in a fairy tale book. However, if you don't have time to visit all these villages, then in our opinion Rothenberg ob der Tauber is the most beautiful village on this route.
If you ever have the opportunity to visit Rothenberg ob der Tauber, you really should do it in our opinion. We have never seen a cap that feels so much like a movie, like a fairy tale.
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