★ 4.7🇩🇪 Rothenburg ob der TauberSuggested visit 1 dayBest season May to October; December for the Christmas market
Medieval old townHistoric siteCity walk
A walled medieval town on the Tauber, its half-timbered houses and Christmas market like a storybook.
Overview
On the Tauber in Bavaria, Rothenburg is one of Germany's best-preserved medieval towns. Complete walls and several towers ring the old town, half-timbered houses line cobbled lanes, and the town hall tower on the market square can be climbed. Often treated as the emblem of the Romantic Road, it also has a year-round Christmas museum and market.
History
Chartered in 1274, it prospered on medieval trade and then stagnated after the Thirty Years' War — which left the old town untouched by later rebuilding.
Highlights
•The complete wall walk
•The market square and town hall tower
•The Plönlein lane
•The German Christmas Museum
Practical tips
•The wall circuit takes about an hour
•The town is busy; early morning or evening is calmest