Things To Do in Rothenburg ob der Tauber
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Rothenburg ob der Tauber Attractions
For an excellent view over the town, take a walk on the ramparts between the massive 16th-century Spitaltor tower (at the end of the Spitalgasse) to the Klingentor tower. A circuit takes about a half-hour. At the Rödertor (Röder Gate), you can climb the tower to a small exhibition describing an air raid in 1945 that leveled a large part of the eastern end of town. Entry to the ramparts is 1.50€ for adults, 1€ for children, but opening times vary and depend on the weather.
Raise a Toast to the Bürgermeister
Rothenburg’s famous 17th-century drinking binge, in which the Bürgermeister (mayor) downed a tankard of beer to save the town, is re-enacted in a play, “Der Meistertrunk” (“The Master Draught”), first performed in 1881. These days it’s part of a festival that takes place every September/October. Hundreds of citizens dress up in period costumes and, of course, drink beer.
Get Out of Town
If you want to escape the tourist hordes, rent a bike at Rad und Tat, Bensenstrasse 17 (tel. 09861/87984; www.radtat.de), for about 12€ per day. Get a map from the tourist office and follow the bike path along the Tauber River; for more information, check out cycling routes at www.germany.travel.
- Historic Site
Kriminalmuseum (Criminal Museum)
It paid to stay on the right side of the law in the Middle Ages, as these four floors devoted to medieval style law and order prove. Chastity belts, shame masks, torture devices, a beer barrel-shaped stockade for drunks, a cage for bakers whose bread was too small or too… - Landmark
Rathaus (Town Hall)
Part Gothic, from 1240, and part Renaissance, from 1572, Rothenburg’s town hall is decorated with intricate friezes and a large stone portico opening onto the main market square. A climb to the top of the 60m (200-ft.) tower provides a view that sweeps across town and far into the… - Historic Site
Reichsstadtmuseum (Imperial City Museum)
In 1631, during the Thirty Years’ War, the Protestant city of Rothenburg was captured by General Tilly, commander of the armies of the Catholic League. He promised to spare the town from destruction if one of the town burghers could drink down a huge tankard full of beer in one… - Religious Site
St. Jakobskirche (Church of St. James)
Rothenburg lies on the pilgrim trail to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, site of the remains of St. James (Jakob). The town’s main church, infused with mellow light from its original stained glass, has long been a stop on the route, completed in 1471 with soaring spires and a high…
Rothenburg ob der Tauber Shopping
Rothenburg is a good place to load up on Bavarian memorabilia. Friese-Kabalo Kunstgewerbe OHG, Grüner Markt 7 (tel. 09861/7166), specializes in cuckoo clocks and also carries Hummel figurines, pewter beer steins, music boxes, and dolls. Käthe Wohlfahrt's Weihnachtswerkstatt (Christmas Workshop), Herrngasse 1 (tel. 098614090), is a national institution with shops in towns around Germany and stalls at Christmas markets. Shelves are filled with everything from clothing and accessories to cuckoo clocks, but the real attractions are toys and Christmas ornaments. If you collect teddy bears, you’ll love Teddyland, Herrngasse 10 (tel. 09861/8904; www.teddyland.de), which stocks more than 5,000 of them, the largest teddy bear population in Germany. Bear images are printed on everything from T-shirts to bags and watches.
Rothenburg ob der Tauber Nightlife
The best memory some people have of Rothenburg ob der Tauber is following the cloaked night watchman with his lantern and halberd through the quiet cobblestone streets of the old town, as he recounts historical episodes of hardship in the medieval days. From mid-March to December, he makes his rounds from the Marktplatz at 8pm in English and 9:30pm in German, with a fee of 7€ for adults and 4€ for children 17 and under.
The most idyllic place to go in the evening is Unter den Linden, at Kurze Steige 7B (tel. 09861/5909), a cafe-bar on the River Tauber. You reach it by going under the arch at St. Jakobskirche and following Klingengasse through the town gate, heading down a path to Detwang. The cafe is open April to October, daily 10am to 10pm, but it shortens its hours in winter, depending on weather.
