Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany

After visiting friends in Aschaffenburg, Germany we made our way to Rothenburg. The Romantic Road in south central Germany is a tourist trail from Frankfurt to Munich. Rothenburg, a medieval city with much of its walls still standing, is a popular stop along this route. 

We spent most of one day here, following a self-guided walking tour.  

For the full story of our trip in a campervan and our first, much longer adventure in a motorhome, see my book 

Ramblings & Roundabouts on Amazon

We arrived in Rothenburg mid-morning with the hopeful goal of getting a place to camp with electricity. We had found the campsite on the Park4Night app where it was advised to arrive before noon. We got the last spot with electricity. It was conveniently located about a block or so outside the wall, so we could explore entirely on foot. 

In the photo above, you can see a bit of the wall,  much of which can be walked on. Look for access points at the north, south, and east parts of the wall. 

Rothenburg features beautifully preserved half-timbered buildings. The two above are on Market Square, the main square in the center of town. The opening photo shows another side of Market Square.

Stone walls and towers coupled with half-timbered buildings is a lovely combination. 

Because it is so well kept and beautiful, Rothenburg is a popular tourist destination. Even though we visited in August, we did not find it too crowded. 

I had to snap a photo of this bookstore, with books displayed on the doorstep.

Below is St. Jakob's Church. Sitting at the highest point of Rothenburg, it was built in the 1300's and became Lutheran in 1544. It's so tucked in among other buildings, it's hard to feel its magnitude.

But once inside, you definitely gain a perspective of its grandeur.

Sometimes you get one of the best views in a large church or cathedral by looking up.  

A massive organ flanked by unornamented walls, which are common features of Protestant churches in Europe.

St. Jakob's Church is famous for the beautiful Altar of the Holy Blood created by the German woodcarver Tilman Riemenschneider. Its left panel shows Jesus Christ's triumphal arrival in Jerusalem. The center panel is of the Last Supper. 

The right panel features Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane while his disciples sleep. Stunning craftsmanship!

I love the ornate business signs that can be found in old town districts of European cities including these in Rothenburg.

Below is a view of Castle Garden located at the south end of town and featuring views of Rothenburg's surroundings. It's a shady spot to take a break from sightseeing. We finished our day with dinner at a quiet restaurant. Brian had sausages and fries, and I had fish with green and potato salads.  

After a delightful day in Rothenburg, we returned to the gate by which we entered in the morning. 

Our campsite is just a few minutes walk beyond the gate. Time for some rest and relaxation before continuing further along the Romantic Road the next day.