Rothenburg
After decades of watching Rick Steves talk about Rothenburg in his PBS shows, Travels in Europe, Marc and I finally got to see the city for ourselves last June 21, 2022. Was it a real treat!
Still jetlagged, we woke up very early on our second full day in Germany. Just like in previous vacations in Europe, we tended to fall asleep between 5 and 7 pm and then wake up between 3 and 4 am for the first few days. Armed with our 9 euro train ticket which allowed us to travel all over Germany, we took a very early train to Rothenburg from Wurzburg. We arrived an hour and 15 minutes later.
Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a German town in northern Bavaria known for its medieval architecture. Half timbered houses line the cobblestone lanes of its old town. The town walls include many preserved gate houses and towers plus a covered walkway on top. The medieval town hall has a tower with panoramic views.
I remember seeing a small mall which housed a supermarket and a number of restaurants right across the Rothenburg Train Station. It was there where we ended up eating lunch and away from the city's restaurants in the center which catered primarily to tourists.
Anyway, that morning, after doing a quick tour of the the small mall, we made our way to the center of Rothenburg. All I can say is that the city's core resembled a town from centuries ago. Truly picturesque.
The Rathaus was quite imposing. We arrived very early in Rothenburg and many of the commercial establishments, majority of which were souvenir stores and restaurants, were still closed.
A head on view of the facade of the Rathaus.
These half timbered houses were located on one side of the Rathaus.
A head on view of the facade, a partial one, that is.
This area of the city center was by far the most popular part of town. Called Plonlein, it was here where we tourists patiently took turns to take pictures. It is a landmark area featuring old, half timbered houses, a small fountain, cobbled streets, and shops.
I have to say, the line was rather long. It was a good thing no one took up more than enough time taking pictures at the expense of others.
This was a hotel a few steps from the Rathaus or City Hall. A Tauck Tour bus stopped in front of it and the driver unloaded the suitcases of its passengers. Whoever was on this tour must be so happy since the hotel location couldn't be beat! It was right in the heart of Rothenburg.
After much encouragement, Marc finally allowed me to take his picture. Taken at Plonlein.
Where else but at Plonlein!
There were literally thousands of tourists here on the day we visited. Most were Americans on a shore excursion from Rhine River Cruises.
The Blasius Chapel and Memorial to the victims of two world wars.
Inside the Blasius Chapel.
A view of the roofs of Rothenburg houses within the walls of the city center.
We walked up this tower and walked around the city on the walls that surrounded the city's core. From up there, we had a nice view of town.
The tower of the city's cathedral
There were plenty of students too! These young folks were mainly from the US.
If my memory serves me right, these were the restaurants right across the Rathaus or City Hall. There were lots of outdoor seating here and not a single seat was vacant. Revenge tourism sure was alive and well in Germany!
Rothenburg is synomous with Christmas. Thus the presence of Christmas stores and lots of them all over Rothenburg.
Kathe Wohlfarht is the undisputed Christmas store to see and visit in Rothenburg. Featured on travel shows by many travel gurus in the US, majority of the visitors were from North America. The store also looked like a museum inside with thousands of Christmas ornaments, tree toppers, nutcrackers, and everything else Christmas!
This yellow building right across Kathe Wohlfarht must be part of the Christmas store chain. It had Kathe Wohlfarht written on it right above the entrance.
This was the part of the Kathe Wohlfarht which we could take pictures of. It was an animated diorama of a Christmas scene.
Snowballs were one of the town's delicacies. Marc bought one for 3.5 euros. It was fried dough which was either covered with sugar, chocolate, and much more. Many of the tourists were not impressed though. LOL!
Some of the popular snowballs for sale in Rothenburg!
And more snowballs!