Bavaria · Self-guided walk
Rothenburg ob der Tauber in one walk 8 sights, 45 minutes
A self-guided walking tour of the Rothenburg ob der Tauber Old Town: 8 sights on one 3.1 km loop, about 45 minutes on foot, back where you started.
No two days to spare? Here is the short version: the big sights in one loop. I would take longer. I always take longer.
At a glance
The walk in numbers.
- Distance
- 3.1 km, a loop
- Time
- about 45 minutes of walking at 4 km/h, plus however long you stop
- Sights
- 8
- Start and finish
- St. Jakob
- Steps
- on Mühlacker
- Cost
- free: no guide, no booking, no tip
The route
Map of the Rothenburg ob der Tauber walk: 8 stops, one loop.
The gold line is the walk. The numbers are the stops, in the order you reach them. The pale lines are every other street in the Old Town.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
The stops
8 sights in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, in walking order.
Each stop says how far the next one is and which streets take you there.
1. St. Jakob
the start
The town church. I tried to take a bite and it was too tall. Go in and keep going until you have to climb. I am not telling you what waits there.
Next: Franziskanerkirche, 210 m, about 3 min, along Kirchgasse, Herrngasse.
2. Franziskanerkirche
about 3 minutes of walking from the start
After 1805 this church housed the salt office, and only from 1871 was it a Protestant church. Salt first, prayers later: a building after my own heart. Walk round it first, then step in. I am not telling you what to look for.
Next: Rathausturm, 170 m, about 3 min, along Herrngasse.
3. Rathausturm
about 6 minutes of walking from the start · inside open Mon–Sun 09:30–12:30, 13:00–17:00
The tall one over the market square. From the top the whole town lies spread out like a buffet. I counted the roofs instead of eating them. Almost. I am not telling you how many stairs.
Next: Mittelalterliches Kriminalmuseum, 200 m, about 3 min, along Marktplatz, Obere Schmiedgasse.
4. Mittelalterliches Kriminalmuseum
about 9 minutes of walking from the start
A big old house on the Burggasse, full of other people's rules. Rules are not edible. I checked. I am not telling you what else is inside.
Next: Brunnen am Plönlein, 190 m, about 3 min, along Untere Schmiedgasse.
5. Brunnen am Plönlein
about 12 minutes of walking from the start
A small corner the town is rather proud of. I came for the cobbles and stayed for the view. Stand still for once and look down both lanes. I am not telling you what you will recognise.
Next: Stöberleinsturm, 450 m, about 7 min, along Kobolzeller Steige, Mühlacker, Spitalhof.
Lunch break
Ivy’s Deli, Spitalgasse 6, about 30 m off the route, open Mon 08:30–16:00, Thu–Sat 08:30–16:00, Sun 09:00–16:00, Tue–Wed closed.
A small deli on the Spitalgasse, a few steps south of the Plönlein. More on what to eat in Rothenburg ob der Tauber.
6. Stöberleinsturm
about 18 minutes of walking from the start
A tower in the wall wearing a hat far too pointy for its size. It also goes by a second name, and I am not telling you that one either.
Next: Rödertor, 820 m, about 12 min, along Spitalhof, Sterngasse, Röderschütt.
7. Rödertor
about 31 minutes of walking from the start
One of the old gates in the wall, and one you can still climb. Look at it twice: once from inside the town, once from outside. I am not telling you why.
Next: St.-Wolfgangs-Kirche, 760 m, about 11 min, along Rödergasse, Pfeifersgäßchen, Pfarrgasse, Judengasse, Klingengasse.
8. St.-Wolfgangs-Kirche
about 42 minutes of walking from the start
A church set into the town wall. It looks more like it is keeping watch than praying. Walk round it slowly. I am not telling you what is underneath.
Back to the start: St. Jakob, 280 m, about 4 min, along Klingengasse.
Every stop counts from the street; the hours are for going inside. Opening hours from OpenStreetMap, © OpenStreetMap contributors. Check before you go.
After the walk
The rest of Rothenburg ob der Tauber.
This loop is 8 sights. The Old Town is 74 streets, and I have opinions about all of them. Every street of the Rothenburg ob der Tauber Old Town, with what to eat and where.
Cobble Gobble is a walking game for iPhone: every street is a line of dots you collect by walking it, and the phone stays in your pocket. Your first city is free.