Considered as the highlight along Germany’s Romantic Road (Romantische Straße) is this fairytale-like town in Bavaria. Renowned for its well-preserved medieval structures and pristine setting, it’s easily one of Europe’s most visited towns.
Rothenburg ob der Tauber means “Red Fortress above the Tauber” in German. Its history dates back to the 10th century with the construction of the Rothenburg castle on the mountaintop overlooking the river Tauber.
While over a million tourists from around the world flock to this place every year, it was almost eerily empty on my visit. It was in March 2020, a week before the first social distancing and lockdown measures were implemented in the country.
Still, this picturesque town didn’t disappoint. The absence of the crowd was instead an advantage, making the atmosphere more enchanting. It has been my favorite place in Germany from the moment I stood at its old city gate.
