By air
Frankfurt (FRA) or Nuremberg (NUE), ~2 h or ~1 h
Europe · Germany
Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany
A walled medieval town
Getting there
Best time to visit
May to September; December for the Christmas market
Don't miss
The Plönlein
The town walls
The Market Square
St. Jakob's Church
Things to do
Walking the town walls
The Christmas Museum
Where to eat
What to pack
Walking shoes
A quieter corner
The Night Watchman's evening tour
Questions travellers ask
How do I get to Rothenburg ob der Tauber?
Fly into Frankfurt (FRA), about 2 hours away, or Nuremberg (NUE), about 1 hour away.
When should I go to Rothenburg?
May to September, or December for the Christmas market.
What should I see in Rothenburg ob der Tauber?
The Plönlein, the Market Square and St. Jakob's Church, then walk the town walls and visit the Christmas Museum. Wear walking shoes.
What can I do in Rothenburg in the evening?
Join the Night Watchman's evening tour. And don't leave without trying Schneeballen pastries.
About Rothenburg ob der Tauber
- Hills
Where it is
Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a small walled town in the district of Ansbach in Middle Franconia, Bavaria, Germany, perched on a ridge above the valley of the Tauber river on the Romantic Road.
History
A castle was built here in 1070, the Hohenstaufens added another in 1142, and in 1274 Rothenburg became a free imperial city. The Thirty Years' War left it without money or power, which preserved its 17th-century appearance; Romantic painters rediscovered it in the 19th century, and in 1945 the US official John J. McCloy ordered that the town not be shelled.
People
Rothenburgers speak German with a Franconian accent, and tourism is the town's main livelihood. The local speciality is the Schneeball, a ball of deep-fried pastry dusted with sugar or coated in chocolate, and Franconian wines are served in the old taverns.
Known for
- The Plönlein corner
- Walking the complete town walls
- Riemenschneider's Holy Blood Altar in St. Jakob's Church
- Schneeballen pastries
- The Night Watchman's tour
Did you know?
According to legend, in 1631 the general Tilly spared the town after its mayor, Georg Nusch, drained a tankard of about 3.25 litres of wine in a single draught; this Meistertrunk, or master draught, is still re-enacted today.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.