Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
( 7330; Hofbronnengasse 13; adult/child €4/2.50; 9.30am-6pm Mar-Dec,
11am-5pm Jan & Feb)
A nostalgic collection of dollhouses, teddy bears, toy carousels, tin
soldiers and infinite glass-eyed dolls awaits at this comprehensive museum, the work of
collector Katharina Engels. All the exhibits are presented in traditional glass display
cases.
BOTTOMS UP FOR FREEDOM
In 1631 the Thirty Years War - pitching Catholics against Protestants - reached the gates of
Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Catholic General Tilly and 60,000 of his troops besieged the Protest-
ant market town and demanded its surrender. The town resisted but couldn't stave off the on-
slaught of marauding soldiers, and the mayor and other town dignitaries were captured and sen-
tenced to death.
And that's about where the story ends and the legend begins. As the tale goes, Rothenburg's
town council tried to sate Tilly's bloodthirstiness by presenting him with a 3L pitcher of wine.
Tilly, after taking a sip or two, presented the men with an unusual challenge, saying 'If one of you
has the courage to step forward and down this mug of wine in one gulp, then I shall spare the
town and the lives of the councilmen!' Mayor Georg Nusch accepted - and succeeded! And that's
why you can still wander though Rothenburg's wonderful medieval lanes today.
It's pretty much accepted that Tilly was really placated with hard cash. Nevertheless, local poet
Adam Hörber couldn't resist turning the tale of the
Meistertrunk
into a play, which, since 1881,
has been performed every Whitsuntide (Pentecost), the seventh Sunday after Easter. It's also re-
enacted several times daily by the clock figures on the tourist office building.
Tours
The tourist office runs 90-minute walking tours (€7; in English) at 11am and 2pm from
April to October. Every evening a lantern-toting
Nachtwächter
dressed in traditional cos-
tume leads an entertaining tour of the Altstadt; English tours (€7) meet at the Rathaus at
8pm.
Festivals & Events
Historisches Festspiel 'Der Meistertrunk'
FOLK DANCE
