On the Romantic Route....Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Among the many cities in Bavaria, and in particular on the Romantic Route, the jewel of medieval art, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, stands out for its beauty and charm. The city has about 13,000 inhabitants and has a large number of hotels, guesthouses and restaurants, making it one of the most important tourist destinations in Germany. Do not miss the Marktplatz (market square), which has always been the main place of life in the city thanks to the presence of the Rathaus. The large Town Hall building is characterised by two different architectural styles: one part dates back to the Gothic period, while the main facade of the market square is in the Renaissance style. Also worth a visit is the Baumeisterhaus, which was built in 1596 as the residence of the city architect. Rothenburg's main street is the Herrngasse (Lords' Street), which connects Marktplatz to the Burggarten (castle gardens). It is a typical street of a Bavarian village: elegant houses with facades in different styles and colours, balconies full of brightly coloured flowers and many shops. Among the churches is the Jakobskirche (St. James Church) which is the largest and most important in the city. The construction took almost 100 years, while the solemn consecration dates back to 1448. The exterior of the church, with two high bell towers, and the interior, which is sober and severe, are in the late Gothic style. The origin of the town dates back to the 10th century, when the castle of the Counts of Rothenburg was built; throughout the 11th century Rothenburg enjoyed a very flourishing and positive political, cultural and commercial period, so much so that in 1274 the town walls were extended to house the craftsmen's quarter. In 1802 the city was annexed to Bavaria and a hundred years later, in 1905, it was connected to other German cities by a railway line.