The Romantic Road in Germany is a popular tourist route that spans 220 miles (350km) between Wurzburg and Fussen. Rothenburg ob der Tauber is one of the oldest and most historic of the medieval towns along the Romantic Road and it is only a 2 hours drive from Frankfurt. You could also take a train from Frankfurt main station to Rothenburg.

It appears that the notion of a “Romantic Road” was a post World War II marketing concept, originally aimed to American soldiers to foster them to bring their families to Germany for a vacation. Wonder why? Eventually the concept caught on with a wider audience.  

Quite honestly, I found that the road itself is not as scenic as it claims, particularly no more Alps can be seen. For a very long distance, we drove on this non fascinating motorway. So, I think it is the towns that dating back approximately 1000 years that are the attractions in the area, not the ‘road” that connects them.

This was the day we would need to drive the longest hours of all days, before we could arrive Rothenburg Town. Husband estimation it would take us 3 hours ! Gosh.

One of the shop that sells mini bears, got mama-bear, papa-bear, baby-bear, very cutie. Also, mini puppets that were hanging there.

We stopped at a shop that sells ball-shape biscuit. Husband said that’s Schneeballen, the famous delicacy in Rothenburg. We walked in the shop happily to select our schneeballen.

Besides the normal size schneeballen, there also got mini size schneeballen packed in a crystal clear plastic bag for selling. Just perfect as a little something for friends. We planned to buy a few packets on the way back, since we didn’t want to carry it while still on the walk. Unfortunately, it rained very heavily on the way back. We were so messy at that time that we couldn’t find them and bring them home.  

We have waited there for 10 minutes, until husband figured out there is a tower to walk up from this building. We climbed up the tower, hoping to get to see the town from high, only found that it had to be closed due to bad weather. Anyway, the lady keeper is kind enough to let us stayed there for a while.

Looking at the dark sky, we knew the downpour could happen at anytime. We didn’t know where else to go….Just when we planned to walk back to the car park, we spotted a museum accidentally. After paying €4 for 2 adult’s ticket (children are free for admission), we went inside quickly.

The underground dungeon, not a pleasant environment at all. In fact, I feel very spooky down there.   The visitors are allowed to go inside one of the prisoner’s ward, and experience the torture sensation of losing all sorts of stimulation. Gosh, facing the cold-dark walls like this one, it’s only easy for one to go mentally break down.

As a medieval town, I think Rothenburg has made its peace with tourism and modernism. The town is a delightful place to visit, for its combination of the medieval ambiance and the people that operate the town. Its buildings are well kept, its stores are clean and orderly and the service in its restaurants is prompt but unrushed. Its shopkeepers and restaurateurs, take the effort to make Rothenburg an enchanting place and a worthwhile destination.