Rothenburg ob der Tauber
This walled medieval town is like something right out of a
story book…except that it’s the real thing!
Like I mentioned earlier, some places cater to tourists yet maintain
their authenticity…and Rothenburg is one of them. A wealthy town during medieval times due to
its strategic location between north-south and east-west trading routes,
Rothenburg fell on hard times in the 1600s when the town was invaded and
ransacked by the Catholics during the Thirty Years War. The silver lining…the Protestant town
remained well-preserved and untouched until it became popular with tourists in
the in the 19th and 20th centuries. I think we were here
at just the right time…when most of the day-trippers and tour groups had gone. Finally, we timed something right today!
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| Only in Germany would a guy be drinking beer in the Glockenspiele |
Highlights:
- Night Watchman’s Tour: What a gig this guy has! Every night at 20:00, crowds of tourists follow this man in his black robe, spear, and lantern around Rothenburg as he tells the town’s history interspersed with some good jokes. For an hour’s work, this guy easily pulls in 200+ euros! We’re not even sure he is a native. Hmmm…any suggestions for starting a business like this back home?! The Night Watchman made it look so easy!
- Walking
the Ramparts: We took a nice, quiet walk first thing in the morning from
the
Food
- Bratwurst: Joe loves German sausages and has them any chance he gets. The only down side…they’re always served with the not-so-appetizing sauerkraut.
- Schnitzel: I enjoy a good pork schnitzel in lieu of weiner schnitzel which is usually easy enough to find.
- Schneeballen: Rothenburg’s signature item is its famous balls of pastry strips covered in various flavors. We sampled the cinnamon sugar and the cappuccino filled. Very filling, but very tasty…kinda like eating a crisp donut! (Cinnamon-sugar = apple cider donut, while cappuccino = frosted donut) Our only disappointment here…when we asked about lemon schneeballen for Kat, a German man asked the saleswoman for grapefruit, then proceeded to laugh and make fun of us in German! And people say Americans are rude??? Not in this case. Sure enough the next shop we went to had lemon.
Lodging: Gasthof Goldener Greifen is essentially a cute
guesthouse/restaurant with a great location just off Rothenburg’s medieval Market Square
Cons: 2 euro
fee for Internet in common areas and lots of stairs to climb with
suitcases.
Unfinished Business: Medieval Crime and Punishment Museum,
German Christmas Museum, finish the ramparts walk, dinner at Gasthof Goldener
Greifen (like most places here, dinner is only served until 9pm since most
tourists only come for the day)
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| While Joe was searching if the Gideons had made it to Rothenburg with their Bible (They hadn't) ...We found these items in our drawer...apparently an American army wife couldn't pack everything and left these for whoever wants them...random |
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