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| On the wall that surrounds Rothenburg. |
At the entry point at night
Close to where we parked -
same as on the right -
night-time.
same as on the right -
night-time.
The clock building - the
figures in the windows move.
figures in the windows move.
Close to where we parked -
the bank is at the end by the
tower.
the bank is at the end by the
tower.
Hafengasse Strasse
Hafengasse Strasse
Hafengasse Strasse
St George-Brunnen
( Fountain )
( Fountain )
Near Schrennenplatz - going towards the city wall. Most if not all Parking is free.
Marktplatz (Market Square) - across
from St George-Brunnen (Fountain).
They had food, curio booths all over
the place as a band played Christmas
songs.
from St George-Brunnen (Fountain).
They had food, curio booths all over
the place as a band played Christmas
songs.
World Famous Kathe Wohlfahrt
Weinachtsdorf (Christmas Village)
pictures are not allowed inside the
building. Located down the street
from the Marktplatz (about 1 block)
Weinachtsdorf (Christmas Village)
pictures are not allowed inside the
building. Located down the street
from the Marktplatz (about 1 block)
Near our entry point on Galgengasse -
the wall is visible in the background.
the wall is visible in the background.
Near Roder-brunnen (fountain) on
Rodergasse. Many postcards are
made using this place in Rothenburg
Rodergasse. Many postcards are
made using this place in Rothenburg
On Georgengasse at the Kirchplatz
(church-square)
(church-square)
Shopping district on Schmiedgasse
going away from the Marktplatz. The
Ratstrinkstube is seen in the
background.
going away from the Marktplatz. The
Ratstrinkstube is seen in the
background.
Rothenburg on the Tauber
world-famous, picturesque, medieval
Franconian city at the crossing of the
German Romantic Road and the
Castle Road.
High on a rock above the Tauber
Valley stood the castle of the Counts
of Rothenburg (900-955). In II 42 it
became the property of the
Hohenstaufen noblemen and in 1356
an earthquake destroyed it. Only the
chapel was reconstructed in 1383.
Wealthy merchants and landowners
as well as craftsmen settled near the
castle (Herrngasse and Burggasse)
and so grew the city of Rothenburg. It
was protected by a wall with four
towers, two of which still stand - the
"Markusturm" and the
"Weisser Turm".
In 1274, Kaiser Rudolf von Habsburg
declared Rothenburg to be a "Free
City of the Empire"; thereby gaining
her own independence and judicial
freedom. To guard against enemy
attacks, a small army was organized in
which each citizen was required to
serve.
Under the leaderships of Mayor
Heinrich Toppler (13731408),
Rothenburg rose to new heights. His
shrewd flair for business and politics
brought new riches and power. The
city expanded and a second wall with
towers and fortifications was erected.
The important trade routes from north
to south and east to west met at
Rothenburg. The advantage of large
markets brought high profits for trade
and handcrafts through tightly
controlled business.
The "Free City of the Empire" set a
model example of independence. The
farmers stored their grain in the
"Kornschranne", the "Zehntscheune"
in the "Spitalhof", in the
"Johanniskirche" and the "Rossmuhle"
whose mill wheels were driven by 16
horses. There the grain could be
ground into flour for the daily bread if
the water-powered mills in the
Tauber Valley were besieged by
enemy forces. Drinking water was
supplied from a spring outside the city
and flowed through a secret
underground canal made of wooden
pipes. It was then pumped up to the
"Klingenturm" and from there supplied
the city wells. In the 16th century the
famous architect, Leonhard
Weidmann constructed such
Renaissance edifices as the new town
hall, the "Baumeisterhaus", "Spital';
"Hegereiterhaus", as well as several
fountains, Rothenburg was called the
Franconian Jerusalem with its 8
churches and 5 chapels and was
renowned as a shrine.
In the 30 Years War 1618- 1648) the
city, which had become protestant in
1544, suffered heavy losses. The
conquering of the city by General Tilly
is recalled today by the pageant "Der
Meistertrunk" ; and the clock over the
former "Ratsherrentrinkstube" on the
market place.
Again during the next century,
Rothenburg lost much wealth at the
hands of enemy troops. In 1802 the
city became part of Bavaria and lost
her rights as a "Free City of the
Empire".
Throughout all of this time,
Rothenburg has preserved the
atmosphere of a proud medieval city.
A look at a map shows that even today
with her 45 towers, gates and wall, the
picture is one of a closed castle to
which access may be gained only
through the gates.
world-famous, picturesque, medieval
Franconian city at the crossing of the
German Romantic Road and the
Castle Road.
High on a rock above the Tauber
Valley stood the castle of the Counts
of Rothenburg (900-955). In II 42 it
became the property of the
Hohenstaufen noblemen and in 1356
an earthquake destroyed it. Only the
chapel was reconstructed in 1383.
Wealthy merchants and landowners
as well as craftsmen settled near the
castle (Herrngasse and Burggasse)
and so grew the city of Rothenburg. It
was protected by a wall with four
towers, two of which still stand - the
"Markusturm" and the
"Weisser Turm".
In 1274, Kaiser Rudolf von Habsburg
declared Rothenburg to be a "Free
City of the Empire"; thereby gaining
her own independence and judicial
freedom. To guard against enemy
attacks, a small army was organized in
which each citizen was required to
serve.
Under the leaderships of Mayor
Heinrich Toppler (13731408),
Rothenburg rose to new heights. His
shrewd flair for business and politics
brought new riches and power. The
city expanded and a second wall with
towers and fortifications was erected.
The important trade routes from north
to south and east to west met at
Rothenburg. The advantage of large
markets brought high profits for trade
and handcrafts through tightly
controlled business.
The "Free City of the Empire" set a
model example of independence. The
farmers stored their grain in the
"Kornschranne", the "Zehntscheune"
in the "Spitalhof", in the
"Johanniskirche" and the "Rossmuhle"
whose mill wheels were driven by 16
horses. There the grain could be
ground into flour for the daily bread if
the water-powered mills in the
Tauber Valley were besieged by
enemy forces. Drinking water was
supplied from a spring outside the city
and flowed through a secret
underground canal made of wooden
pipes. It was then pumped up to the
"Klingenturm" and from there supplied
the city wells. In the 16th century the
famous architect, Leonhard
Weidmann constructed such
Renaissance edifices as the new town
hall, the "Baumeisterhaus", "Spital';
"Hegereiterhaus", as well as several
fountains, Rothenburg was called the
Franconian Jerusalem with its 8
churches and 5 chapels and was
renowned as a shrine.
In the 30 Years War 1618- 1648) the
city, which had become protestant in
1544, suffered heavy losses. The
conquering of the city by General Tilly
is recalled today by the pageant "Der
Meistertrunk" ; and the clock over the
former "Ratsherrentrinkstube" on the
market place.
Again during the next century,
Rothenburg lost much wealth at the
hands of enemy troops. In 1802 the
city became part of Bavaria and lost
her rights as a "Free City of the
Empire".
Throughout all of this time,
Rothenburg has preserved the
atmosphere of a proud medieval city.
A look at a map shows that even today
with her 45 towers, gates and wall, the
picture is one of a closed castle to
which access may be gained only
through the gates.
Click on map
(left) to go to an
inter-active map.
You can zoom in
on the city with a
satellite view.
(left) to go to an
inter-active map.
You can zoom in
on the city with a
satellite view.
| Rothenburg ob der Tauber |
| The picture of the Marktplatz changes to the Plonlein with Siebers Tower and the Kobolzeller Gate - when you place your mouse pointer over it. |
Tourist Information
Rothenburg Tourist Office
Marktplatz 2
91541 Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Tel 001-49-9861-404-800 (from the U.S.)
Fax 001-49-9861-404-529
www.rothenburg.de LINK
Email: info@rothenburg.de
Rothenburg Tourist Office
Marktplatz 2
91541 Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Tel 001-49-9861-404-800 (from the U.S.)
Fax 001-49-9861-404-529
www.rothenburg.de LINK
Email: info@rothenburg.de
Bank