"Signs" Rothenburg ob der Tauber by dinhyen

One of the major stops on Germany's Romantic Road, Rothenburg is extremely popular. And deservedly so. The town is virtually intact from medieval times, complete with an encircling wall and a fort with turrets and ramparts. Its small-town charms are complemented by spectacular vistas. According to my research, its best features are the brilliant red roofs and the lovely cast-iron signs. Needless to say I was not disappointed, even though the threshold had been raised tremendously after my visits to Prague and Cesky Krumlov. Rothenburg is also highly recommended as a shopping mecca. Prices were surprisingly reasonable for Germany, and we happily did all of our shopping here.

View along the medieval wall

Having been to Prague and Cesky Krumlov, I had thought no other place could have more picturesque roof tops. However Rothenburg oT held its own! Rothenburg's ace in the hole is the medieval wall which encircles the town. A walk on top of the wall gives you a close, unparalleled look at the splendid rooftops.

Cast-iron signs, Rothenburg oT

Cast-iron signs come in all shapes, sizes, and color.

My telephoto lens died after this very shot, and we still had 3 days left. Argh!

• Pros:Very picturesque; wonderful red roofs and cast-iron signs; great shopping
• Cons:Crowded with tourists
• In a nutshell:Don't bother looking further for the perfect medieval town