Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
of fountains; water flowed from high to low through Rothenburg. Its many fountains had
practicalfunctionsbeyondprovidingdrinkingwater(somewerestockedwithfishonmarket
days and during times of siege). Water was used for fighting fires, and because of its plenti-
ful water supply—and its policy of requiring relatively wide lanes as fire breaks—the town
never burned entirely, as so many neighboring villages did.
Two fine buildings behind the fountain show the old-time lofts with warehouse doors
andpulleysontopforhoisting.Allovertown,loftswerefilledwithgrainandcorn.Ayear's
supply was required by the city so they could survive any siege. The building behind the
fountainisanartgalleryshowingoffworkbymembersofthelocalartists'association(free,
Tue-Sun 14:00-18:00, closed Mon). To the right is Marien Apotheke, an old-time pharmacy
mixing old and new in typical Rothenburg style.
ThebroadstreetrunningundertheTownHalltoweris
Herrngasse.
Thetownoriginated
with its castle (built in 1142 but now long gone; only the castle garden remains). Herrngasse
connected the castle to Market Square. The last leg of this circular walking tour will take
you from the castle garden up Herrngasse and back here. For now, walk a few steps down
Herrngasse and stop by the arch under the Town Hall tower (between the new and old town
halls). On the left wall are the town's measuring rods—a reminder that medieval Germany
was made of 300 independent little countries, each with its own weights and measures.
Merchants and shoppers knew that these were the local standards: the rod (4.3 yards), the
Schuh
(“shoe,”roughlyafoot),andthe
Ell
(fromelbowtofingertip—fourincheslongerthan
mine...try it). Notice the protruding cornerstone. These are all over town—originally to pro-
tect buildings from reckless horse carts (and vice versa).
• Under the arch, you'll find the...
▲
Historical Town Hall Vaults (Historiengewölbe)
This grade-schoolish little museum gives a waxy but interesting look at Rothenburg during
the Catholics-vs.-Protestants Thirty Years' War. With helpful English descriptions, it offers
a look at “the fateful year 1631,” a replica of the mythical Meistertrunk tankard, and a dun-
geon complete with three dank cells and some torture lore.
Cost and Hours:
€2.50, daily May-Oct 9:30-17:30, shorter hours April and Dec, closed
Nov and Jan-March, tel. 09861/86751.
• Leaving the museum, turn left (past a much-sketched-and-photographed venerable door),
and walk through the courtyard to a square called...
Once a produce market, this parking lot fills with Christmas shops during December. Notice
the clay-tile roofs. These “beaver tail” tiles became standard after thatched roofs were out-
