As far as German fortress towns are concerned, Rothenburg ob der Tauber ('above the Tauber River) is the crown jewel. Tourism is its lifeblood in today's economy. It attracts more than 2 million visitors annually. It saw its beginnings in 1142 when a castle was built on a bluff overlooking the Tauber River valley. A neighborhood was established around the castle, when settlers moved there, seeking safety from the fortification. By the year 1600, there were approximately 6,000 residents that called Rothenburg home. All of this while places like Berlin and Frankfurt were mere overnight way stations. From 1618 to 1648,the 30 years war brought economic hard times to Rothenburg. Rothenburg was protestant in nature and repeatedly plundered by the Imperial Catholic Army. This continuous war, along with the plague put the city in a state of financial destitution. This situation persisted until the late 19th century. Much of the "old world" charm that people enjoy today is a result of that economic downturn. There was no money for improvements, so the city was in a historical time warp. Many of the homes you see today remain basically unchanged from the 16th and 17th century.
One of the biggest blows came on March 31, 1945 when 16 USAAC bombers dropped their bomb load on Rothenburg as a secondary target after failing to strike a target in nearby Nuremberg. 45% of Rothenburg was either damaged or destroyed. The war ended and the city was rebuilt. It is one of the most popular medieval villages in all of Germany.
One thing I believe everyone would enjoy when they visit here is the Night Watchman's tour. We took the tour on Wed. night. It lasted about an hour and is a walking history tour of Rothenburg. Your escort will present to you a verbal history of Rothenburg, while strolling through the village. Very enjoyable and light hearted. Please take the tour. Tomorrow we board the train to Heidelberg, another town steeped in history. General George Patton was taken to the hospital after his car crash. This is where he passed away. On the list to visit is the Heidelberg Castle. After all, no visit to Germany would be complete with out at least one visit to a castle.
 |
| Larry, the Night Watchman, Jerry |
 |
| Linda, taking pictures you see in this blog |
 |
| Flowers everywhere |
 |
| Old bridge in an old town |
 |
| Small door, built in to main door, so one person can enter the village at a time |
 |
| German cows in the Tauber Valley |
 |
| If we had window boxes at home, I suspect they would look like this |
 |
| Linda, Nut Cracker (biggest nutcracker I ever saw), Pat |
 |
| Some people think we are twins (what do you think?) |
 |
| Bar maidens from the 16th century |
 |
| City Hall |
No comments:
Post a Comment