Discover Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Rothenburg ob der Tauber brings together municipal collections, historic buildings and themed museums with a variety of hiking trails. Along the routes, you’ll encounter diverse landscapes: they circle the Old Town, pass through alleyways into the Tauber Valley, and wind through woodland above the Tauber and Schandtauber valleys. The area’s cultural history and opportunities to spend time outdoors offer different highlights for your trip.

Museums and historic sites

The RothenburgMuseum displays the town’s collections spanning eight centuries across more than 2,500 square metres. Its Judaica department presents evidence of Jewish culture in Rothenburg ob der Tauber. The Judengasse (Jews’ Lane) also tells the story of the town: it has borne its name since 1371, is lined with characteristic half-timbered houses, and is considered Europe’s only surviving late-medieval Jewish lane. Jews and Christians lived side by side here.

The German Christmas Museum presents the history of Christmas across more than 250 square metres. The Medieval Crime Museum is housed in the former Johanniterkommende, built in 1396. It is dedicated to the history of law and is considered Germany’s most important museum of its kind. The former Franciscan church is the oldest church in the town and houses the Franciscan Altar by Tilman Riemenschneider. Judengasse 10 is an exceptional cultural monument with a historic mikveh in its cellar. The cultural themes therefore range from municipal collections and Jewish history to Christmas, law and sacred art.

Hiking between the Old Town and the valleys

Thirteen combinable circular hiking trails, with a total length of more than 170 kilometres, start and finish at Rothenburg’s Market Square. The trails are signposted outside the historic Old Town. As the trail network may change, check the latest route information before setting out.

The Rothenburg Tower Trail circles the Old Town on a route of about four kilometres that takes around two and a half hours. The Little Tauber Valley Hike is 4.1 kilometres long and takes about an hour and a half. It leads through hidden alleyways in Rothenburg’s Old Town into the Tauber Valley, between the Double Bridge and the Toppler Castle. Here, almost identical distances come with different estimated times. When planning your day, it is therefore worth considering both the duration and the distance.

The Rothenburg Tauber Mills Trail runs from the historic Old Town through the Tauber and Schandtauber valleys to Detwang, passing a total of 15 mills. The W4 circular trail, “Via the Nature Trail”, is 5.3 to 7.6 kilometres long and follows a well-maintained hiking path through shady mixed woodland above the Tauber and Schandtauber. Its stated range of distances sets it apart from the two shorter walks; check the latest route information and trail conditions before setting out.

There are also different landmarks to guide you within the town. Large sections of the town wall are accessible around the clock; access arrangements may change during maintenance or safety work. The viewing platform on the Town Hall tower is reached by climbing 220 steps. The Castle Garden is a small park high above the Tauber River, offering a distinct landscape highlight alongside the hiking trails.

Choose accommodation to suit your travel interests

When looking for accommodation, your preferred mix of activities can be a useful first filter: would you like to focus on museums and historic sites, or plan several hikes? The different cultural themes offer starting points for a stay centred on local history, while the distances and approximate durations help you compare the hiking options.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Windelsbach, Reichelshofen, Neusitz, Ohrenbach, Steinsfeld, Neuendettelsau, Wolframs-Eschenbach, Burgoberbach.

See the main travel overview: Ansbach.