Day: 67 Location: Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany
December 5, 2017
Once again, Google came to my rescue and pointed me towards Rothenburg ob der Tauber, for what was touted to be a ‘quintessentially German village experience”. And boy, did it not disappoint. Shortly after walking off the bus, I soon found myself facing an imposing city gate and surrounding ramparts, welcoming me to the medieval old town, perfectly well preserved within its walls.
First settled by the Celts before the 1st century, the “Red fortress above the Tauber” became the second largest city in Germany in the Middle Ages. However, the 30 Years War brought poverty and despair, and the city no longer held a place of significance and growth stalled, thus preserving its 17th-century state.
Today, it’s the country’s most exciting medieval town, enjoying tremendous popularity with tourists without losing its charm. There’s a thousand years of history packed between its cobblestones and half-timbered houses.
Rothenburg is also the perfect Christmas village, with its colourful houses, cobblestone lanes, and pretty squares all dressed up in its finest holiday dress.
Rothenburg is a city where you do not need to do anything, you just need to be there. A spent a lovely day just strolling through quaint streets, talking the opportunity to walk along the fortification walls, which, at 1.5miles long, completely surrounding the town’s historic centre, essentially sealing it off from progression of time.
Rothenburg ob der Tauber is the quintessential German fairytale village that made for the perfect ending of my Christmas Market Tour of Germany!