Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
▲
Imperial City Museum (Reichsstadt-Museum)
You'll get a scholarly sweep through Rothenburg's history at this museum, housed in a
former Dominican convent. Cloistered nuns used the lazy Susan embedded in the wall (to
the right of the museum door) to give food to the poor without being seen.
Just follow the
Rundgang/Tour
signs. Highlights include the
Rothenburg Passion,
a
12-panel series of paintings from 1492 showing scenes leading up to Christ's crucifixion (in
the
Konventsaal
); an exhibit of Jewish culture in Rothenburg through the ages
(Judaika);
a
14th-century convent kitchen
(Klosterküche)
with a working model of the lazy Susan and a
massive chimney
;
romantic paintings of the town
(Gemäldegalerie);
the fine Baumann col-
lection of weapons and armor; and sandstone statues from the church and Baumeister Haus
(the seven vices and seven virtues).
Cost and Hours:
€4, daily April-Oct 9:30-17:30, Nov-March 13:00-16:00, English
info
sheet
and
descriptions,
Klosterhof
5,
tel.
09861/939-043,
• Leaving the museum, go around to the right and into the Convent Garden (when locked at
night, continue straight to the T-intersection and see the barn three doors to the right)
.
This spot is a peaceful place to work on your tan...or mix a poisoned potion. Monks and
nuns, who were responsible for concocting herbal cures in the olden days, often tended herb
gardens. Smell (but don't pick) the
Pfefferminze, Juniper
(gin),
Chamomilla
(disinfectant),
and
Origanum.
Don'tsmelltheplantsinthepoisoncorner(potencyindicatedbythenumber
of crosses, like stars indicating spiciness on a restaurant menu).
Cost and Hours:
Free, daily April-Oct 9:00-19:30, closed Nov-March.
• Exit opposite from where you entered, angling left through the nuns' garden (site of the
now-gone Dominican church), eventually leaving via an arch at the far end. Turn right and
go downhill to the...
This part of the wall (view through bars, look to far right) takes advantage of the natural for-
tification provided by the cliff, and is therefore much smaller than the ramparts. Angle left
along the wall to the big street (Herrngasse), then right under the Burgtor tower. Notice the
tiny“eyeoftheneedle”doorcutintothebigdoor.Iftryingtogetintotownaftercurfew,you
could bribe the guard to let you through this door (which was small enough to keep out any
fully armed attackers).
