Rothenburg ob der Tauber: Explore a Charming Walled Town in Germany

Germany is home to a handful of walled medieval towns that have withstood the test of time, but Rothenburg ob der Tauber is beyond a shadow of a doubt the most charming village of them all. In addition to strolling along quaint cobblestone streets and admiring red-roofed buildings, travelers can explore the town’s unique history by visiting the Medieval Crime and Justice Museum, viewing a clock that celebrates a drunken mayor who is said to have saved the village, and visiting a Christmas Museum full of handcrafted vintage Christmas decorations.

Don’t be fooled by the innocent looking streets of Rothenburg ob der Tauber. The Medieval Crime and Justice Museum chronicles the draconian laws and punishments that were the norm in what we now know as Germany in the olden days of yore. Townspeople who carelessly wagged their tongues were forced to wear a metal “gossip mask” that alerted everyone around them that they were guilty of spilling the tea. The Medieval Crime and Justice Museum also showcases the proper legal procedure for a duel, a confession chair covered in spikes, and an executioner’s robe.

If the macabre Medieval Crime and Justice Museum is a bit overwhelming, you can waltz over to the German Christmas Museum to learn about how German culture played a role in shaping the celebration of Christmas as we currently know it. Visitors can view a shimmering collection of vintage ornaments and Christmas decorations, including the majestic nutcrackers of Erzgebirge which have become an international symbol of Christmas. The Christmas Museum also features a giant nutcracker that is wildly Instagrammable.

No visit to Rothenburg ob der Tauber is complete without a stop at the Ratstrinkstube Clock Tower. Local lore states that in the 1600s, a bellicose count attempted to conquer Rothenburg ob der Tauber. A brave mayor named Burgermeister Nusch accepted a challenge from the invading army to drink a huge amount of wine in a single sitting. Burgermeister Nusch took such an impressive swig of wine that the bellicose count and his troops decided to leave the town alone. The Ratstrinkstube Clock Tower memorializes the fearless mayor’s act of drunken bravery every hour with a mechanical reenactment of his boozy feat of strength.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a charming medieval town steeped in lively history. Germany‘s most celebrated medieval town may look sleepy on the outside, but many historical thrills await within its perfectly preserved walls.