Rothenburg ob der Tauber · Ancient Town in Germany Six

Love traveling, recording travel experiences. Recently busy with trivial matters, rarely have leisure time to doodle, and have been silent for a while. I like that the readers in the Ctrip community are strangers, and everyone's likes are a recognition of the work. Travel records are not pushed among acquaintances, the reading volume meets expectations, and the number of likes and collections is good, but the number of followers is a bit low. I need to work harder for everyone's recognition and continue! Rothenburg is almost never absent from the list of the 50 or 100 most beautiful ancient towns in the world. There are two Rothenburgs in Germany, one in the north of Germany, east of Bremen, on the Wümme River, an industrial and logistics hub, spelled Rotenburg Wümme. The other well-known beautiful town of Rothenburg is located in Bavaria, an important attraction on the Romantic Road, west of Nuremberg, on the highlands of the Tauber River, hence called Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Spring in Europe is very beautiful. My itinerary is relatively long, and I was worried about aesthetic fatigue, so I deliberately put what I thought were the highlights in the latter part of the trip when making the strategy. Actually, it was a misjudgment. European cities and towns are all very beautiful and have their own unique charm. The preserved and restored buildings silently tell their own historical stories. When I arrived in Rothenburg, it was cloudy, with occasional rays of sunshine breaking through the clouds, and sometimes a few drops of rain would fall. This medieval town of Rothenburg was not much damaged during World War II, nor was it artificially demolished and rebuilt to destroy the old town. The narrow roads paved with old cobblestones lead people to every corner of the town. The old city walls have been repaired and can still be walked around, but they are narrow and many sections of the walls are not high enough for visitors to walk upright. On a section of the western wall, you can see the Tauber River Gorge. Whether you have ample time or not, you must walk a section of the city wall to experience the feeling of defending against foreign enemies in the Middle Ages. The names and nationalities of donors who have contributed to the restoration of this ancient building over the years are engraved on the city wall, which in itself is a rare sight. The South Gate Tower is probably the landmark building of the town and a famous attraction in Germany and even Europe. The cover photo of "Lonely Planet Series - Germany" is selected from this scene. The hotel I booked is in an old house near the South Gate, "Hotel and Brewery Bell." Perhaps a few hundred years ago, this house was a brewery. From the window of my room, I could see the South Gate and the bustling tourists below. It only returned to tranquility after the day-trippers left at dusk. One can imagine that a few hundred years ago, this must have been a peaceful and harmonious ancient town. If you don't go to the gorge, you can walk around the ancient town in half a day. The small town is not big, but it has many stories. There are many old buildings and museums worth visiting, recording and telling the stories of the ancient town. St. Jacob's Church, built starting in the 14th century and completed in the 15th century, is most famous not for its history but for the Holy Blood Altar, which is said to contain three drops of Jesus' blood in a crystal reliquary. It is said to be the only church in Bavaria that charges an entrance fee. Of course, historical legends cannot be verified, but if you believe, it is true. The Town Hall Square is located in the central area of the ancient town, where the tourist center is located, and is a must-visit spot for tourists. Tourists gather in the square, waiting for the clock on the tourist bureau building to strike the hour. The windows on both sides of the clock will open, and the dolls inside will perform a drinking scene. This is to commemorate the war between Catholics and Protestants in 1631. The Catholic army besieged the city and was ready to attack. The general set a condition that if someone in the city could drink 3 liters of wine in one go, he would spare everyone in the city. The mayor, to save the ancient town and its people, accepted the challenge and successfully drank the wine. Thus, the ancient town and its people were saved. The true historical record is that the mayor and councilors were executed after the city was breached. But kind-hearted people prefer to believe the legend of "drinking to save the city." In the city, there are the "Medieval Crime Museum," "German Christmas Museum," "Imperial City Museum," "Doll and Toy Museum," and the "Old Rothenburg Craftsmen's House," all of which require tickets. You can choose to visit according to your interests and time. Of course, you can see many city gates, walls, sculptures, totems, fountains, and many ancient buildings along the cobblestone roads throughout the ancient town. Early morning and evening are probably the most beautiful times in the ancient town. At these times, the day-trippers have not yet arrived or have already left. Don't miss it. It is recommended to stay one night in or around the ancient town. There are many parking lots around the ancient town, some of which are free. Cloudy days, the pictures are not outstanding, so I chose a few to make up the numbers. Honestly, Rothenburg was the most anticipated spot on my itinerary, and due to the weather, it was also the most disappointing. I hope to have the opportunity to visit Rothenburg again. Don't miss it. If you have the chance to visit Bavaria, be sure to include Rothenburg ob der Tauber in your plan. It will not disappoint you.