Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
For a quiet and scenic break from the tourist crowds and a chance to appreciate the marve-
lous fortifications of Rothenburg, consider this hike: From the Castle Garden, go right and
walkoutsidethewalltotheKlingentor.AttheKlingentor,climbuptotherampartsandwalk
on the wall past the Galgentor to the Rödertor. Then descend, leave the old town, and hike
throughthepark(oncethemoat)downtotheSpitaltor.Explorethefortificationsherebefore
hiking a block up Spitalgasse, turning left to pass the youth hostel, popping back outside the
wall, and heading along the upper scenic reaches of the river valley and above the vineyards
back to the Castle Garden.
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Tradesman's House (Alt-Rothenburger Handwerkerhaus)
See the everyday life of a Rothenburger in the town's heyday in this restored 700-year-old
home.
Cost and Hours:
€2.50; Easter-Oct Mon-Fri 11:00-17:00, Sat-Sun 10:00-17:00; Dec
daily 14:00-16:00; closed Nov and Jan-Easter; near Markus Tower at Alter Stadtgraben 26,
tel. 09861/5810.
This fortified Gothic church is built into the medieval wall at the Klingentor. Its dungeon-
like passages and shepherd's-dance exhibit are pretty lame.
Cost and Hours:
€1.50, Wed-Mon April-Sept 10:00-13:00 & 14:30-17:00, Oct
10:00-16:00, closed Tue and Nov-March.
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A Walk in the Countryside
From the
Burggarten
(castle garden), head into the Tauber Valley. With your back to town,
go down the hill, exiting the castle garden on your left. Once outside the wall, walk around,
keeping the castle and town on your right. The trail becomes really steep, taking you down
to the wooden covered bridge on the valley floor. Across the bridge, the road goes left to
Toppler Castle and right (downstream, with a pleasant parallel footpath) to Detwang.
Toppler Castle
(Topplerschlösschen) is cute, skinny, sky-blue, and 600 years old. It
was the castle/summer home of the medieval Mayor Toppler. The tower's top looks like a
house—a sort of tree fort for grownups. It's in a farmer's garden, and it's open whenever
he'saroundandwilling toletyouin(€1.50,normally Fri-Sun13:00-16:00,closedMon-Thu
and Nov, one mile from town center at Taubertalweg 100, tel. 09861/7358). People say the
