Step Back in Time in Rothenburg, Germany

There are few places in the modern world where you can get a feel for what life was like hundreds of years ago, but in Rothenburg ob der Tauber in Germany’s Franconia region, you can do just that.

The town, which overlooks picturesque Tauber River Valley, dates back to the ninth century and is a beautiful example of Medieval architecture. Timber wood homes are beautifully preserved and create a fairytale setting for an incredible family vacation. But Rothenburg (pronounced Rote-en-burg) goes far beyond the Instagram-worthy scenery — there are plenty of ways to introduce the kids to history and culture all while having a fun-filled vacation.

schneeballen © Eugenia Lazaris

The cobblestone streets are lined with quaint shops selling local handicrafts and German-made toys, along with plenty of sweets and treats like local specialty schneeballen, a fried pastry shaped like a snowball. You can find them in a variety of flavors, but the best, by far, are the ones made in the traditional style — dusted with powdered sugar. For an authentic schneeballen, stop in at Bakerei Striffler, where owner Florian Striffler carries on the family tradition of baking these sweet symbols of Rothenburg, along with an entire menu of delicious baked goods. (Insider tip: To eat them like a local, get your schneeballen to go in a bag and smash the bag so you have bite-sized pieces you can snack on while you walk through town.)

Day or night, the town square is the place to be — and not just because of the many cafés and shops lining the square — every hour on the hour, a giant clock tower overlooking this central meeting point puts on a cuckoo clock-style show. As the clock chimes the hour, animatronic figures emerge to re-enact a story from the town’s history of a town mayor who drank an entire tankard of wine to impress an enemy, thus saving the town from destruction.

For a different perspective of the town, head to the outskirts where you can walk the perimeter of the town atop ancient fortified walls, giving you a view of the timber wood homes inside the walled city to one side and the sweeping views of the Franconian countryside to the other.

© Eugenia Lazaris

There are many attractions showcasing the town’s history, like Rothenburg Museum, which explores centuries of local history and the oldest of its kind monastery kitchen from the original Dominican monastery that houses the museum today.  You can also visit Medieval Crime Museum, which has exhibits covering the history of crime throughout Germany’s past. But to truly step back in time, take the nightwatchman tour.

Led by a local dressed in the traditional outfit of a Medieval watchman, complete with halberd, lantern and horn in hand, this walking tours take you through the streets of the town after dark. Tours are nightly, weather permitting, and cost 9 euros for adults (4.5 for students, and children 12 and under are free). You don’t need a reservation, just meet at the town square and join the group when the watchman appears — and be sure to pay your watchman at the end in cash. Tours are in English at 8 p.m., and the watchman will lead you on an adventure through the town’s alleys, pointing out not just the sites but also giving you a fun and interactive history of the town.