Rothenburg and Wurzburg

By Glen Bruels
This is part of a series called Viking Grand European Tour
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Yesterday was a very long (and HOT) day. We left the boat and drove for an hour along the “Romantic Road” to get to Rothenberg. Much of this area of Germany was spared from Allied bombing in WWII and, hence, many of the lovely villages survived. To stimulate more tourism, the Bavarians/Franconians decided to promote driving along this 350 km highway between Wurzburg and Fussen. Rothenburg itself is a walled gem of a town, having been declared a Free Imperial City in 1274. While its fortunes waxed and waned throughout its history, preservation was a major priority and today it shows – the city walls remain intact, the buildings are beautiful, and the tourists are plentiful. If I had anything negative to say, it was that it felt somewhat like a theme park. Having said that, the city survives by tourism and the do an excellent job at it. After spending most of the day there, we went into Wurzburg, the site of the Residence, a beautiful (partially rebuilt) palace that was built between 1720 and 1744 that boasts the largest ceiling fresco in the world. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The other thing that is pretty cool here is the plethora of vineyards – with their vines going in vertical versus horizontal rows. I would think that would potentially cause more erosion, but apparently not. Anyway, we left Wurzburg and headed to Werthheim.

The Market Square -- beautiful architecture and the center of the shopping platz.
The Market Square — beautiful architecture and the center of the shopping platz.
The Ratrinkstrinkstube (Councillor's Tavern), with it's lovely glockenspiel clock. The two characters that come out of the doors are an old mayor who saved the town from destruction by betting an attacking general (the other character) that he could drink over 3 liters of Franconian wine in one gulp. The city's still here -- he must have done it!
The Ratrinkstrinkstube (Councillor’s Tavern), with it’s lovely glockenspiel clock. The two characters that come out of the doors are an old mayor who saved the town from destruction by betting an attacking general (the other character) that he could drink over 3 liters of Franconian wine in one gulp. The city’s still here — he must have done it!
Outside the Christmas Museum (and shop!). I think Kathe Wohlfahrt must own Christmas in Germany. They have beautiful things, but they seem to be in every city in Germany. They even have a major distribution center in the US!
Outside the Christmas Museum (and shop!). I think Kathe Wohlfahrt must own Christmas in Germany. They have beautiful things, but they seem to be in every city in Germany. They even have a major distribution center in the US!
Some patrician's houses. If you look to the top right, this is where you would store your belongings -- getting them up there by pulley. BTW, the fountain in the front has a mermaid on the front that some say looks like Starbuck's logo. Nah!
Some patrician’s houses. If you look to the top right, this is where you would store your belongings — getting them up there by pulley. BTW, the fountain in the front has a mermaid on the front that some say looks like Starbuck’s logo. Nah!
But it does have these frightening little characters!
But it does have these frightening little characters!

Outside the Gallows Gate (yup, that's where they were), heading into the gardens. BTW, you may see a "mask" between the two towers. If invaders tried to attack this way, they would pour poop onto them from the holes there (they couldn't afford flaming oil!).Outside the Gallows Gate (yup, that’s where they were), heading into the gardens. BTW, you may see a “mask” between the two towers. If invaders tried to attack this way, they would pour poop onto them from the holes there (they couldn’t afford flaming oil!).

 

A nice view looking down into the Tauber Valley.

A nice view looking down into the Tauber Valley.

A stork nest on top of a house. Never saw any storks.
A stork nest on top of a house. Never saw any storks.
A dunking cage -- one of the many pain and/or shame inflicting tooks used in Rothernburg. It was made especially for bakers who either put cheap filler ingredients in their bread or charged too much for what was presented. The baker would be dipped into the water 13 times -- apparently the origination of the phrase "Baker's Dozen."
A dunking cage — one of the many pain and/or shame inflicting tooks used in Rothernburg. It was made especially for bakers who either put cheap filler ingredients in their bread or charged too much for what was presented. The baker would be dipped into the water 13 times — apparently the origination of the phrase “Baker’s Dozen.”
"Who me?!"
“Who me?!”
Little Square
Little Square
Looking up at the town walls.
Looking up at the town walls.
You can actually walk around the ramparts on the city walls. They go for 2.5 km; I did about 1 km.
You can actually walk around the ramparts on the city walls. They go for 2.5 km; I did about 1 km.
Deb chose to stay below!
Deb chose to stay below!
Beauty everywhere!
Beauty everywhere!
The Holy Blood Altar in St. James Church. It was carved in 1505
The Holy Blood Altar in St. James Church. It was carved in 1505.
Lots of beautiful paintings in the church too.
Lots of beautiful paintings in the church too.
Random grape vines on one of the buildings.
Random grape vines on one of the buildings.
We ate at the Fatal Cafe in Budapest and lived, we figured we shouldn't push our luck and eat here!
We ate at the Fatal Cafe in Budapest and lived, we figured we shouldn’t push our luck and eat here!
The Wurzburg Residence. This was a spectacular palace with some amazing fresco paintings, plaster work, and tapestries. There are over 300 rooms in the palace. Unfortunately, much of palace wings were destroyed by Allied bombing and had to be completely restored. The central portion, however, is original. We couldn't take pictures inside, but you should definitely check this out online!
The Wurzburg Residence. This was a spectacular palace with some amazing fresco paintings, plaster work, and tapestries. There are over 300 rooms in the palace. Unfortunately, much of palace wings were destroyed by Allied bombing and had to be completely restored. The central portion, however, is original. We couldn’t take pictures inside, but you should definitely check this out online!
The Marienberg Fortress, which sits above the weird vertically-rowed vineyards and the Main River.
The Marienberg Fortress, which sits above the weird vertically-rowed vineyards and the Main River.
This entry was posted in Cruising, Germany, Travel
Glen Bruels

I am a traveler and sometimes clay sculptor, following a long career working in consulting. My work allowed me to travel the world extensively and I was hooked. Today, I travel with my wife/best friend to explore new places, meet new people, and learn new things.

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