11 Interesting Things to See and Do in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany

June 10, 2024 Mustafa Natalwala 756 Views

Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a town in the Ansbach district of Germany. It is part of the famous Romantic Road of South Germany. The town is best known for its well-preserved historical buildings. The majority of the best things to do in Rothenburg ob der Tauber revolve around exploring museums and medieval buildings.

The town is one of only remaining German town that have their medieval city walls intact. There are also numerous places to visit in Rothenburg ob der Tauber that hail from the period. This includes old timber houses, town hall, shops, marketplaces, and so on. The colourful houses standing on the sides of cobbled stone streets is one of the most beautiful things to see in Rothenburg ob der Tauber.

The city dates back to the first century CE. It sits on the banks of river Tauber and that’s how it got its name. In 1142, King Konrad II built a castle and the town’s name literally translates to Red Castle above Tauber. While the castle is no longer among the places to see in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, you can still visit its site. The ruins of the castle have been turned into a wonderful garden with some parts of the original structure.

The town is also home to several interesting museums. These Rothenburg tourist attractions include museums dedicated to the town’s history, Christmas, medieval crime, wars, and more. However, one of the top things to do in Rothenburg ob der Tauber is the night watchman tour. It is a theatrical journey with a dramatic guide. The tour covers many of the Rothenburg attractions and gives insight into the life of people during medieval times. It is one of the best ways to explore Rothenburg sightseeing.

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Table of Contents

Top 11 Tourist Places to Visit in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany

1. Medieval Crime Museum (Mittelalterliches Kriminalmuseum)

This museum showcases 1000 years of history of the European justice system. It specifically focuses on the Middle Ages. The museum has some of the most interesting things to see in Rothenburg ob der Tauber.

The museum has more than 50,000 exhibits divided into several vaults. These are dedicated to court proceedings, evidences of crime, torture techniques, notorious felons, imprisonments, witch proceedings, famous crimes, and so on. The exhibits also focus on laws and their impacts on the society. It is one of the most popular Rothenburg tourist attractions and you will need about 2 hours to explore it.

2. Town Hall (Rathaus)

The building was built in two stages. The older part with the belfry was built in the 1400s. This part exhibits a Gothic style architecture. Later during the 1500s, the building was extended but in Renaissance style.

This blend of styles creates one of the most beautiful places to visit in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany. Aside from its architecture, the town hall is in front of the Market Square which is surrounded by several other historical buildings. You can spend a few minutes admiring the aesthetic beauty of this place when you visit Rothenburg ob der Tauber.

3. St. James’s Church

This church has great historical and religious significance. It is an important pilgrimage on route to the Church of St. James in Spain’s Santiago de Compostela. It is a must-see in Rothenburg ob der Tauber for several reasons.

The church was built in several stages between 1311 and 1484. The church is known for its architecture and the relics that decorate its interior. Some of the most important artifacts include the Holy Blood altarpiece by Tilman Riemenschneider, the High Altar by Friedrich Herlin, the great organ built by Reiger Orgelbau, and the stained glass windows.

This is one of the best things to do in Rothenburg ob der Tauber if you want to explore historical and religious artworks from the late Middle Ages. You will need about 2 hours to explore the church and the masterpieces within its walls.

4. Imperial City Museum (Reichsstadtmuseum)

This museum tells you the story of the town from ancient history to the modern era. It is one of the top things to do in Rothenburg, Germany to get a perspective on the rest of the tour. You will get to know about the political, social, cultural, and architectural history of the town.

The museum heavily focuses on the thirty years’ war and the role of Rothenburg in the battles. You will also get to see what the life of a prisoner during medieval times. The museum also recreates different settings like houses, kitchens, stores, etc. from different periods. This museum really improves the experience of Rothenburg sightseeing as you can imagine what the places used to be once upon a time. You will need about 2 hours to tour the Imperial City Museum.

5. Castle Garden (Burggarten)

Dating back to 1142, this castle ruled the region for several centuries. The castle was devastated in an earthquake in 1356 and this wonderful garden was built on its location in the 17th century. It is one of the most beautiful places to see in Rothenburg ob der Tauber.

The only structure that remains is the Chapel of St. Blaise. This church was built from the great hall of the ruined castle. It is a meticulously designed garden with several wonderful sculptures. The sections of the garden represent the four seasons of the year. You can easily spend a couple of hours from Rothenburg travel to explore this garden.

6. Night Watchman Tour

This tour is a magical experience. The tour begins when the clock tower clangs nine times at night. Then the nightwatchman begins the tour by picking up a Halberde and lighting a lantern. The tour focuses on the history of the town, specifically the medieval times.

The theatrics make the tour quite interesting. It is one of the top things to do in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany. The entire tour is from the perspective of a medieval night watchman and gives you an insight into the life of the people during those times. You will also cover several Rothenburg attractions during this one-hour tour.

I suggest you should book the Night Watchman Tour in advance.

7. Marktplatz

This public square is considered the historic heart of the town. It is surrounded by many old buildings including timber houses from the 1400s. The centerpiece of the square is a 1446 fountain: Georgsbrunnen. The square is surrounded by amazing cafes and small shops. You can easily spend a few minutes exploring the square and the establishments around it when you visit Rothenburg ob der Tauber.

If you want to know and understand more about Marktplatz and Rothenburg ob der Tauber then I suggest you should go for a Guided Walking Tour of Rothenburg ob der Tauber.

8. German Christmas Museum (Deutsches Weihnachtsmuseum)

This museum traces the history of how Germans decorate during Christmas. You will go as far back as medieval times to see how the festivities of Christmas have evolved over the years in Germany.

Despite being one of the interesting places to visit in Rothenburg, the museum is kind of a hidden gem. The exhibits are displayed with cards that tell you when these decorations were used and why. One of the most interesting displays is the 150 figurines of Santa Claus. You will need about 20 to 45 minutes to tour this museum.

9. Plönlein

Also known as the Little Square, this is one of the most picturesque things to see in Rothenburg, Germany. It is also the most photographed spot in the city. The intersection of two streets creates a triangle. It is surrounded by colourful houses and clock towers with a tunnel.

A bright yellow timber house from the 13th century divides the two streets. It has been featured in several popular media, including Disney’s Pinnochio. You should take a few minutes from Rothenburg sightseeing to admire this place.

10. Old Rothenburg Craftsmen House (Alt-Rothenburger Handwerkerhaus)

This 700-year-old house is recreated to look like the house of a craftsmen from the Middle Ages. You will get to see workshops of different professions from the time such as cobblers, bakers, weavers, blacksmiths, and so on.

You will get to see the kind of equipment they used and the way they lived. Even the furniture, utensils, and decorations of the house is era appropriate. It is not very popular among Rothenburg tourist attractions but is quite interesting for those who enjoy exploring history. You will need 45-50 minutes to tour this house.

11. Dinkelsbühl Town

If you are looking for things to do around Rothenburg ob der Tauber, you should head to Dinkelsbuhl town. This 10th-century town is only 30 minutes drive away. The town has preserved its history quite well.

You will also get to see the scars left by the Thirty Years’ War and WWII. You will see similar colourful buildings and timber houses. It also has interesting places to visit near Rothenburg ob der Tauber.

The House of History is the primary history museum of the town and will help you gain perspective while exploring the town. You can easily spend a day enjoying this charming town.

If you are looking for more places to see in Rothenburg, check out the sections below. We have compiled a complete list of attractions that you can explore in the town and around Rothenburg ob der Tauber.

Things to do in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany

Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany

Medieval Crime Museum
Church of St. James
German Christmas Museum
Rothenburg Museum
Rothenburg Town History Museum
Spital Gate
Town Hall Tower
Gerlachshmiede
Imperial Castle of Nuremberg
Munich Residence
Toppler Castle
Markus Tower
Franconian Open Air Museum
Weikersheim Castle & Garden
Langenburg Castle
Deutschordenmuseum
Schloss Frankenburg

Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany

Frakenhohe Nature Park
Taubertalradweg
Vogelfreistatte Grosser und Kleiner Lindleinsee
Heiligenbronn

Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany

Castle Garden
Rothenburg Bad der Stadtwerke
Hans Georg Baumgartner
Bad Mergentheim Wild Park

Shopping in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany

Marktplatz
Market Square
Rothenburg Reiterlesmarkt
ZentRo Rothenburg

Offbeat Places, Tours, & Adventures in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany

Hiking
Night Watchman Tour
Bicyle Tours

Sightseeing in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany

Plonlein
Rodertor
Town Hall
Blade Gate
St. George Fountain
Double Bridge
Roderturm
Herrngasse
Dinkelsbuhl
Romantic Street

Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany

Goldenes Lamm
Winzerhof Stahl
Alter Keller
Landhaus Hohenlohe
Ratsstube
Laurentius
HerR
Le Frankenberg
Mittereier
Baron.ess
Zum Falken
Jagstmuhle
Landhaus Lebert
Schwarzer Adler
Rotes Ross
Backofele

Where to Stay in Rothenburg ob der Tauber?

Here we have listed Top Rated Luxurious, Mid-Range and Budget Hotels in Rothenburg ob der Tauber. You can check below listed hotels for your perfect stay in Rothenburg ob der Tauber.

Luxurious Hotels

Mid-Range Hotels

Budget Hotels

Custom Tours Package in Rothenburg ob der Tauber

How to Reach Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany?

By Air

The airports of Nuttemberg (65 km) and Stuttgart (105) are the closest ones to Rothenburg ob der Tauber. These airports receive direct flights from several cities in Europe. You can travel to Rothenburg ob der Tauber from these cities by train and bus.

By Road

It is important to remember that you should buy tickets to visit Rothenburg ob der Tauber, and not just Rothenburg. The town is connected to the main railway network by the station of Steinatch. The station is directly connected to several cities and towns in Germany. This includes Nurnberg, Wurdberg, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, and several others.

The bus network in Germany is also quite widespread. So you can easily get a bus to reach Rothenburg ob der Tauber from several cities and towns in the country. If you are planning to travel to Rothenburg by car, you should head for route A7. You will use exit 108 to get on Ansbacher Strasse.

By Water

There are no direct water routes to reach Rothenburg ob der Tauber in Germany.

Image Reference

Medieval Crime Museum (Mittelalterliches Kriminalmuseum) – Holger Uwe Schmitt / Wikimedia Commons
Town Hall (Rathaus) – Tilman2007 / Wikimedia Commons
St. James’s Church – Tilman2007 / Wikimedia Commons
Imperial City Museum (Reichsstadtmuseum) – José Luiz Bernardes Ribeiro / Wikimedia Commons
Castle Garden (Burggarten) – Allie_Caulfield / Flickr
Night Watchman Tour – Tilman2007 / Wikimedia Commons
Marktplatz – Allie_Caulfield / Flickr
German Christmas Museum – Tom / Flickr
Plönlein – Th G / PixaBay
Old Rothenburg Craftsmen House (Alt-Rothenburger Handwerkerhaus) – Anna Bukavtsova / Wikimedia Commons
Dinkelsbuhl Town – AlexanderRahm / Wikimedia Commons