"Rothenburg - Part 1 (Part 2 in Heidelburg)" Rothenburg ob der Tauber by FreeCloud

This page contains the Part 1 of info/photos for <font color=red size=+2>Rothenburg </font> on Tauber River.

Under construction (links fixed). Some photos in travelogues, please come back for details later, 2003-Feb-23.

One day would be enough touring this best preserved medieval town in Europe. However, we spent 4 days experiencing the Imperial City Festival (title photo) and hiking in the Tauber valley.

-Travelogue 1:<a href="http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/208b2/" target=newwindow> <font color=blue size=+1> Imperial City Festival </font> </a> (in Heidelburg page)
-Travelogue 2:<a href="http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/208b3/" target=newwindow> <font color=blue size=+1> Shepherd Dance </font> </a> (in Heidelburg page)
-Travelogue 3:<a href="http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/208b8/" target=newwindow> <font color=blue size=+1> Markt Platz </font> </a>
-Travelogue 4:<a href="http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/208b7/" target=newwindow> <font color=blue size=+1> Towers </font> </a>
-Travelogue 5:<a href="http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/208b5/" target=newwindow> <font color=blue size=+1> City Wall </font> </a>
-Travelogue 6:<a href="http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/208b1/" target=newwindow> <font color=blue size=+1>Scene and Stores</font> </a> (in Heidelburg page)
-Travelogue 7:<a href="http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/208b4/" target=newwindow> <font color=blue size=+1> Tauber Valley </font> </a>
-Travelogue 8:<a href="http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/208b6/" target=newwindow> <font color=blue size=+1>Figuren Theatre</font> </a> (in Heidelburg page)
-Travelogue 9:<a href="http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/208b9/" target=newwindow> <font color=blue size=+1>Puppet and Doll Musem</font> </a> (in Heidelburg page)
-Travelogue 10:<a href="http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/208b0/" target=newwindow> <font color=blue size=+1> Burg Hotel </font> </a>

Brief info below, more later:
We liked Rothenburg very much and its surrounding areas, you can hike around there (Tauber river valley).

We planned our trip so just to be there for the Imperial Festival the first weekend of September (last year), another its major festival is in June, check their website for this year's festival schedule.

During the Imperial Festival in September, locals dress up in ancient costume, the whole walled town sets up historic scenes/shows on the streets, people dance and bands play music on the streets, humor (Sachs?) and/or historic shows are playing, very interesting. On Sunday afternoon, there is a shepherds dance show at the marketplace (where the Christmas market sets during the holiday season). The last evening of the festival, a firework memorizes the scene when the town was conquered during the war.

Of course, at the end of the festival, many locals got drunk and lying at the curb. :) They simply parted during the 2-3 day festival!

You can walk along its covered town wall, or climb up to the tower on top of the town hall for a panoramic view. Its criminal museum is very unique.

The night watchman tour is very interesting (in English or German).

There are many hotels inside the wall. But then you do not have to stay inside of the little town.