One of the most anticipated and desired towns in the Christmas Europe trip was Rothenburg. Like something out of the pages of the Brothers Grimm fairy tales, it charmed me from the moment I arrived…
Perfectly preserved, historic Rothenburg ob der Tauber is the most popular stop on the Romantic Road. And it’s not surprising at all.
The road from Prague to Rothenburg was long and challenging, so we arrived there after dark. But it was truly magical to take a stroll along the cobblestone streets of this amazing place in the evening. Rothenburg became the fourth Christmas town out of the planned ten.
We stayed 10 kilometers from Rothenburg in the Burgherheim Forest in a half-timbered building dating back to the 15th century: Waldgasthof Wildbad>>>. Not a hotel, but a dream… An ideal place for a perfect weekend. We spent the evening at this wonderful hotel, and it even has a restaurant, which is convenient because you don’t have to go far for dinner.
In the morning, we set out to explore Rothenburg in the daylight…
Jumping ahead, I can definitely say that Rothenburg turned out to be the most festive city we visited during our Christmas tour #10CountriesofChristmas.
Throughout the city, buildings were adorned with wreaths, garlands, and candles in the windows. At street level, the windows of local bakeries showcased traditional “Schneeball” pastries and pretzels. In Christmas-themed shops, magnificent figurines of nutcrackers and other holiday characters were on display.
Schneeball is the most famous culinary attraction of Rothenburg! Ribbons of dough are formed into balls, deep-fried, and then coated with powdered sugar, chocolate, and other delicious toppings. Diller’s Schneeball (Hofbronnengasse 16) produces 23 different varieties, but you can find a smaller variety throughout the city.
Schneeball are definitely something that everyone should try!
It’s interesting that the preservation requirements for the town are the strictest in the country! Sometimes it feels like you are actually in a medieval town, or a very well-stylized village!
There are several Christmas shops in the town that are open year-round and even a “German Christmas Museum.” If you have the time and the inclination, be sure to visit!
It’s indeed a very picturesque and popular location, and they actually filmed parts of “Beauty and the Beast” in this town. In the movie, this house was where Belle lived, although it looked quite different in the film. Nevertheless, it’s an incredibly photogenic place, especially in sunny winter weather!
Indeed, those shop windows are hard to resist! The festive decorations in Rothenburg make it a charming place to explore during the holiday season.
The town hall in Rothenburg is indeed a remarkable piece of architecture, with its construction spanning several centuries. It’s a wonderful blend of historical styles that adds to the charm of the town.
I’m not a big fan of night photography, but not to show the atmosphere of the evening town would be a crime!
Thanks as always for reading!
xx, OlgaM
