Gems and Wonders Along the Walls of Rothenburg ob der Tauber

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What I love about exploring old cities and towns is that you can discover amazing places and things just by walking around and following your instincts. This is definitely the case in Rothenburg ob der Tauber.

The well-preserved medieval center is just the beginning of the many discoveries waiting for you here. Step outside the center, and you’ll find Rothenburg’s impressive medieval walls, which are a must-see!

Insights into Rothenburg’s Wall

Klingentor and the wall of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany — Klingentor and the wall of Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Inside the Rothenburger Turmweg of the wall of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany — Inside the Rothenburger Turmweg of the wall of Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Rothenburger Turmweg (Tower Trail) of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany — Rothenburger Turmweg (Tower Trail)

When you visit the medieval walls of Rothenburg, it’s pretty amazing to think they’ve been standing for centuries, making it through wars and battles.

But, let’s not forget, they weren’t totally untouched, especially during World War II when they took some damage. The locals worked really hard to rebuild and preserve the walls, and because of their efforts, we can still experience Rothenburg’s medieval charm today. Did you know these walls are actually pretty rare in Germany? Rothenburg’s wall is one of only three that are still standing in the whole country!

Given this amazing fact, I’m sure you’ll agree that the walls are a must-see when visiting the town. If that’s on your mind, don’t hesitate to check them out—I promise you won’t regret it! You’ll see why soon enough.

Expectations for Exploring Rothenburg’s Wall

Planning to explore the walls of Rothenburg ob der Tauber? The walls stretch for about 4 kilometers and connect several towers, so you’ll definitely need a couple of hours to take it all in. It’ll take you around 2 to 2.5 hours to really enjoy the full experience.

There are different ways to explore the walls, but I’d suggest following Rothenburg’s Tower Trail. It circles the city wall and gives you plenty of chances to snap some photos and enjoy stunning views from up top. Along the trail, you’ll find info boards that share the history and details about each section of the wall.

To make it even better, pick up a brochure from the Tourist Information Center. This way, you can learn at your own pace without feeling like you have to stop at every single info board.

Wondering where to start and end the Tower Trail? There are a few entry and exit points, so you can jump in and out at different spots. You’ll come across stairs and passages between stages of the trail, like near the Klingentor tower. If you’ve already checked out Saint Wolfgang Church, you might’ve noticed the stairs by the Klingentor tower—that’s one of the spots where you can start or finish your walk.

Top Sights Along Rothenburg’s Wall

As you walk along the Tower Trail, you’ll come across towers and buildings with some really cool architecture. Here are a few of the most interesting ones to check out, listed clockwise starting from the north:

Klingentor

Let’s start at the northern entrance to the town, the Klingen Gate. Here, the wall features the Klingen Gate Bastion, which includes the fortified Saint Wolfgang Church and the 37-meter-tall Klingen Tower, often called the most beautiful tower in Rothenburg ob der Tauber.

Here’s a cool fact: The Klingentor Tower gets its name from the gorge that slopes steeply down to the Tauber Valley. In the 16th century, it was turned into a water tower with the addition of a copper vessel, and it’s been supplying water to the town’s drinking fountains ever since!

If you head to the stairs at the inner side of the wall, you can access a roofed walkway that connects to other parts of the Tower Trail.

Galgentor

Heading east from the Klingentor, you’ll come across the Galgentor, or Gallows Gate, in the wall. It’s named after the gallows that used to stand in the Little Head Meadow just outside the gate.

The Galgentor itself dates back to 1388, built during the town’s first expansion. Nearby, you can see two-story artillery posts where crossbowmen and musketeers once defended the town through narrow arrow slits. Exploring the Galgentor gives you a better sense of the battles fought to protect this vulnerable part of the city.

Rödertor

In Rothenburg, there are only two towers you can climb: the Town Hall Tower and Rödertor. From its top, watchmen signaled the city center to report whether all was calm or danger was near. Today, you can climb its 103 steps to explore a special exhibit about the tower and take in the stunning views from the top.

Right in front of the watchtower, you’ll find the Röder Gate. This impressive multi-stage gate features two stone bridges—once drawbridges—that cross the town’s dry moat.

As you walk through, you’ll notice armed curtain walls, guardhouses, an elevated gatekeeper’s cottage, and three archways. At the end of the gate system, you’ll see charming twin huts with pointed roofs. These huts served as a toll booth and customs house starting in the 1300s, regulating goods and people entering the city.

The name “Röder” has an interesting history. It means “Woodsman” in German and comes from a small hamlet called Röder that once stood just outside Rothenburg in this direction. Though the hamlet is long gone, its legacy lives on in the name of the gate and tower.

Blacksmith House

As you walk along the covered Tower Trail from Rödertor, you’ll come across the Gerlachschmiede, also known as the Blacksmith House. This cute building, dating back to 1469, is easy to spot from the walkway and is just a minute’s stroll from Rödertor.

Gerlachschmiede, one of the highlights of walking along the wall of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany — Gerlachschmiede, one of the highlights of walking along the wall of Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Once you spot the Blacksmith House from the walkway, you’ll probably feel tempted to take a quick detour from your Tower Trail journey to check it out up close.

Take a moment to admire both the southern and northern sides of the house. The southern facade stands out with its unusual shape, intricate details, a roofline hoist, and a coat of arms featuring a crowned green snake holding blacksmith tools. The northern side is just as fascinating, with a horse-shoed carriage door once used for unloading goods and a medieval-style iron sign that shows the house’s construction year, 1469.

The coat of arms on the front is especially intriguing—a green snake entwined with blacksmith tools. It’s a curious choice for a blacksmith’s emblem and might leave you wondering about its significance. Why a snake instead of a man?

If you’re visiting during the Summer or Fall festivals, you might even catch blacksmiths demonstrating their craft at Green Square (Grüner Markt).

Gerlachschmiede and Rödertor in Rothenburg Ob Der Tauber, Germany — Gerlachschmiede and Rödertor in Rothenburg Ob Der Tauber

There are two great spots to snap photos of the Gerlachschmiede. The first is right in front of the house, just a bit to the west, where you can frame it with Röder Tower in the background. The second spot is along the covered walkway, giving you a perfectly symmetrical view of the house’s roof and windows.

Spital Gate

The Spital Gate (or Spitalbastei) is one of the most unique gates in Rothenburg, thanks to its figure-eight or infinity-shaped design. As you step inside, you’ll notice an inscription that says, “Pax intrantibus, salus exeuntibus,” meaning “Peace to those who enter and salvation to those who leave.” This warm message makes the Spitalbastei arguably the friendliest gate in Rothenburg ob der Tauber.

The Spitalbastei is Rothenburg’s most impressive defense structure, built in the 16th century by Leonhard Weidmann for the Spital Quarter. Its thick, bulky design and multi-door system were meant to intimidate enemies, making it an architectural marvel of its time.

When you visit, don’t miss the cannon gallery, which once defended the city against southern attacks. Walking through the bastion gives you a glimpse into medieval warfare—like stepping into a scene from a movie.

At the southernmost point of the city’s fortifications stands the Spital Gate. Reaching it means you’ve completed half of the Tower Trail and explored the eastern city wall.

As you head north from the Spital Gate along the western part of the Tower Trail, the first area you’ll come across is the Infirmary Hospital and the Spital Quarter. Founded in the late 13th century by the Knights of the Hinterland, these areas were created to care for the sick and poor. They were also the last parts of Rothenburg to be added to the city in the early 15th century.

Near the Spital Quarters, there are three notable buildings and spots that are definitely worth checking out:

The Hegereiter House is the kitchen of the Infirmary hospital, notable for its intriguing witch-hat shaped roof. This structure was the handiwork of the renowned stonemason Leonard Weidmann, who is also credited with the creation of the Spital Gate.
Next is the Stöberleinsturm, also known as the Little Flushing Tower. This beautiful tower is characterized by its symmetrical corner turrets.
Lastly, Stöberlein’s Stage is an open-air mini-amphitheater that faces a covered stair walkway. This spot is a must-visit during a Rothenburg festival, where you have the opportunity to experience a traditional medieval play.

The mini amphitheater near Spital Gate along the wall of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany — The mini amphitheater near Spital Gate

Little flushing tower — another tower of the wall of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany — Little flushing tower

Rossmühle

While the eastern wall of Rothenburg is home to the Blacksmith’s House, the western wall features the Rossmühle. Built in 1516, the Rossmühle was an important corn mill that provided the city with ground grain, especially during times of war or when the mills in the Tauber Valley couldn’t meet the city’s needs due to low water levels.

The Rossmühle was once the largest mill in Southern Germany, with its mill wheels powered by 16 horses, showing just how big its operations were. Since 1957, it’s been turned into a modern youth hostel and a spot for international gatherings, all while keeping the historic vibe of the hospital district.

To me, the Rossmühle is probably the most beautiful building outside the old inner wall of Rothenburg. Its roof is striking, and the windows make it look like a giant pinched the roof, lifting it slightly.

After visiting Rossmühle and heading north, you can quickly stop at Plönlein before picking up the Tower Trail again. This is especially easy when you’re heading north from Spital Gate towards Plönlein or Kobolzeller Tower.

At this point, you have two choices: stick with the Tower Trail inside the town or take a walk outside the city walls for a great view of the Tauber Valley. No matter which path you choose, you’ll end up at the Burgtor.

Burgtor

Rothenburg ob der Tauber’s westernmost gate, called Burgtor or Castle Gate, was built around 1460. It’s notable for having the tallest gate tower in the city’s fortification system, along with a semicircular customs and guardhouse.

At the top of the gate, you’ll see the coat of arms, and along with the old stone roof shaped like a witch’s hat, it creates a striking entrance to the town. The tall tower in the center only adds to its impressive look.

Interestingly, in medieval times, people didn’t always enter the Castle Gate the way we do now. Back then, entry through Burgtor was more restricted at night. Instead of opening the whole gate, which was considered too risky, residents would go through a small door built into the gate, called the ‘narrow eye of the needle.’ This manhole-style door dates back to 1555.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber has so much more to offer beyond its time-traveling charm. Be sure to visit highlights like Plönlein, Marktplatz, and Markusturm. Explore the town’s churches for their unique architecture and hidden treasures, or enjoy the scenic spots for a relaxing escape. If the weather isn’t great, don’t worry—the town’s museums, especially the Medieval Crime Museum, are must-see attractions. If you’re planning a trip, here are some tips to help you make the most of your visit.

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