Rothenburg ob der Tauber

An interesting little city that was once a kingdom overseeing the 180 square miles around it, becoming wealthy from the textile industry - translation - sheep. Conquered during the Thirty Years War, too poor to rebuild afterwards, Rothenburg is a medieval time capsule.

Views of the town.






The nighwatchman who conducts a tour each evening.


I love the butcher shops. They sell cooked sausage - a marvelous lunch.




There are climbing roses everywhere.


One of the reasons the town survived sieges until the Thirty Years War - they had water fountains within the town walls.


Walkway on the city wall.


St. Jakob church and the Holy Blood altarpiece carved around 1500.






There's plenty of touristy shops but if that's not your inclination, they're easy to ignore. (Although one of the most fun shops is a reasonably priced toy store near St. Jakob church.) If you're staying overnight, this is a town best appreciated after the day-tourists leave.