Fodor's To Europe!

photo | map
Day 3
Next stop: Nördlingen Previous stop: Würzburg Return to full itinerary »

Rothenburg is the epitome of a picturesque medieval town. Filled with half-timber houses with a backdrop of towers and turrets, the city offers a taste of Germany's past. It swells with tourists in summer, but that's what happens when you're this good looking.
Learn more about Rothenburg-ob-der-Tauber »

  • Great Drive
  • Museums
  • Natural Beauty

Experiences

  • Explore the town within the walls, with a stop at the Herterich Fountains. Even the walls themselves can be trod upon via a wooden walkway.
  • The Doll and Toy Museum has 1,000 items, some more than 200 years old. There are also theaters and model shops for kids.
  • The Town Hall is half gothic (started in 1240) and half neoclassical (started in 1572). Look for the famed 6-pint Meistertrunk.

Festivals

  • The Meistertrunk Festival in late May celebrates the wager that saved the town during the Thirty Years' War, with townspeople in period costumes.
  • Rothenburg's Reichstadt-Festtage celebrates the city's freedom (gained in 1274) with reenactments in late September.

Side Trips

Learn More

Free Fodor's Newsletter

Subscribe today for weekly travel inspiration, tips, and special offers.

 Fodor's Trip Planning Ideas