Discover Rottweil: Roman Times, Old Town and Gothic Architecture
Accommodation in Rottweil
Rottweil brings together Roman landmarks, a medieval town centre and striking church architecture. If you like to spend your travel days exploring history, strolling through town, visiting markets and enjoying active pursuits, you will find a range of themes here to focus on. The old town and its buildings offer a different emphasis from archaeological remains or the history of technology.
Old Town and Church Architecture
With its picturesque lanes, magnificent town houses and Gothic buildings, Rottweil’s historic town centre is a vivid testament to an eventful past. At its heart stands the Heilig-Kreuz-Dom, a majestic Romanesque-Gothic church with richly coloured choir windows. The Kapellenkirche adds an important Late Gothic building to the townscape: it is considered an outstanding landmark of Rottweil and is of national importance.
A stroll through the medieval town centre is another way to discover Rottweil. The town, described as the oldest in Baden-WĂĽrttemberg, invites you to enjoy leisurely walks. You can make its buildings and lanes a focus of your visit, or combine a town visit with other historic sites.
Roman Rottweil: Museum, Ruin and Roman Trail
The Dominikanermuseum Rottweil opened in 1992 as a branch museum of the Württemberg State Museum. Its exhibition space covers around 1,400 square metres, with a focus on the Romans and medieval sculpture. The Roman Rottweil – Arae Flaviae section takes visitors through a day in Roman Rottweil: 4 August 186 AD, from the forum in the morning through various public and private engagements to a feast in the evening. Reconstructions and interactive areas complement the exhibition.
Visitors of all ages can try on a Roman wool tunic, a chainmail shirt, a Roman soldier’s helmet or shield, and the saddle of a Roman cavalryman. As availability of this hands-on activity may change, it is best to check before your visit. The Roman Baths offer a different glimpse into the Roman past: today, only the ruins can be visited; only the foundations of the former legionary baths remain. Along the Roman Trail in Rottweil’s old town, information pillars highlight key points of the former Roman city.
Salt History and Technology
The Salinenmuseum Unteres Bohrhaus presents salt production in original buildings, with original equipment, a waterwheel and two brine pumps. It also explains the history and significance of the former Royal Saltworks Wilhelmshall, described as Rottweil’s oldest industrial operation. Alongside Roman and medieval themes, this offers a look at the town’s industrial past.
A technological side of Rottweil can be seen at the test tower: modern lifts are tested and certified in twelve shafts, with travel speeds of up to 18 metres per second. This focus is quite different from the historic buildings and exhibitions, and may be a separate consideration when planning your interests.
Weekly Market and Fasnet Carnival
At the weekly market on Obere HauptstraĂźe, you will find fresh regional produce. Visitors can talk to the producers, ask for advice and pick up recipe tips. As the market is held on specific days, it is best to check the market date before your visit.
Another way to experience Rottweil’s traditions is the famous Narrensprung. It begins on Shrove Monday at the stroke of 8 a.m., behind the Schwarzes Tor. The exact date changes from year to year, so check the date for the year you plan to travel.
Cycle Routes, Getting There and Finding Accommodation
The cycling network of the Black Forest and the Swabian Jura connects Rottweil to these natural and cultural landscapes, which can be explored from the saddle. If you are planning an active trip, you can take this connection into account when choosing your excursions. On weekdays, a bus runs from the station through Rottweil town centre to the test tower. For journeys from the station by public transport, bus 5011 is listed for weekdays, and an on-call bus for Saturdays and Sundays. Check the current timetable before travelling.
When looking for accommodation in Rottweil, your planned travel dates may be a deciding factor: would you mainly like to explore the old town, churches and Roman sites, or are the market, Fasnet, technology and cycling more of a priority? If your plans depend on a market day or the bus connection to the test tower, factor the relevant dates and timetables into your plans. This way, you can choose your stay based on the experiences that interest you most in Rottweil.
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Go to the main travel overview: Rottweil.
