Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
In the Middle Ages, when Frankfurt and Munich were just wide spots on the road, Rothen-
burg ob der Tauber was a “free imperial city” beholden only to the Holy Roman Emperor.
With a whopping population of 6,000, it was one of Germany's largest. Today, it's the coun-
try's best-preserved medieval walled town, enjoying tremendous tourist popularity without
losing its charm.
During Rothenburg's heyday, from 1150 to 1400, it was a strategic stop on the trade
routes between northern and southern Europe. Now that route is known as the “Romantic
Road,” linking Frankfurt and Munich through a medieval heartland strewn with picturesque
villages, farmhouses, onion-domed churches, and walled cities.
