Day 5: Rothenburg ob der Tauber
A Day of Choices in Rothenburg: One element of Rick Steve's tours that really appealed to us was the mix of guided activities and free time to explore on our own. Even during times without group activities, our guide gave us great suggestions of things to do and places to visit. After a brief orientation walk through Rothenburg, we were given the chance to explore on our own, and we took full advantage of the opportunity, hitting all the suggested attractions and much more.
Three Top Recommendations: We checked the first of these suggestions off our list by visiting the famous Tilman Riemenschneider Alterpiece at St. James Church in the central square. The wood carving of the last supper was beautiful, but we also discovered many other fine pieces of art and architecture in the church. After the church visit, we toured the Crime and Punishment Museum and then took a walk on the wall around the city. Each offered a unique look into the city and its history. Going Beyond: We know that Rick encourages travelers to get off the beaten path in order make exciting discoveries. This has been one of our missions on this trip. When we have free time, we like to walk, hike and explore, often trying to find the less touristy experiences each city has to offer. Our visit to Rothenburg was no different. Yes, we visited some of the local shops, including some fantastic Christmas stores, but then we ventured outside the city walls. We followed a well-marked trail that led us through the castle garden, past a quaint local church, along a gurgling stream, over a bridge and through the woods. We were rewarded with beautiful scenery, a majestic view of the city and the discovery of tiny Toppler Castle, which is noted in Rick's guide book. A German Requirement: We could not visit Germany without attending a local Beer Garden (Bier Garten). In fact, most of our group felt that same way. Twenty of us gathered together for supper to enjoy good food, company and drink. The Night Watchman: We all gathered in the local square for the Night Watchman's Tour. We had seen bits of this on Rick's PBS show, and it looked interesting. We were looking forward to it, and we were not disappointed. The Night Watchman offered a fun mix of dark humor and history. He clearly knew how to entertain and play off his audience, and we got an informative tour of the city at the same time. It was especially interesting to hear how an American General and German Lieutenant saved the city from total destruction during the war. |
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