Romantik Hotel Markusturm

Rothenberg ob der Tauber

by Jehcekah

Rothenburg is the most unique town we came across in Germany. Certainly many other tourists feel this way because even on a rainy day (like we had) the streets were crowded. There are a few actual attractions to this town, such as The Medvial Crime Museum, but its real charm comes from the streets themselves.
This once ´free imperial city` is known over the world and ranks among Germany`s most frequented towns. It lies on a plateau at the intersection of the so-called ´Romantic Road` and the ´Castle Road` 425 m above sea level. Below the town flows the Tauber River in its 180 ft deep valley and this is the reason why the town has the additional ´ob` or ´above` the Tauber.

We found that we were dodging Japanese people and their umbrellas up and down the streets. If you do not like over crowded or "touristy" areas, then Rothenburg is not for you. But if you love history and souvenier shops then you will love this walled-city. Many of the shops are filled with the typical German souvenir: cuckoo clocks, beer steins, Christmas ornaments, etc. But among these stores we were able to find some of the more unique places to shop. We found our most prized take-home in Rothenburg. A shop there makes wooden signs for your home which are hand-carved and can be personalized while you wait.

The town square has its own version of a Glockenpspiel, but this one displays two men: one drinking a beer and one eating a pretzel. We made our way over to the wall for some great views of the Tauber River and also to see the Romantik Hotel Markusturm. The hotel has been in existence since 1264 and is actually built into the wall that goes around the city: a very impressive site.