This tour was a highlight of our already over-highlighted day–

Rothenburg City Wall Walking Tour:

Walking Tour Location: Rothenburg City Wall Trail (Turmweg)
Cost: Free, Self-Guided (Museum and funicular/lift costs below)
Style: Do-It-Yourself Walking Tour (Self Guided)
Start: Old Town Square (Marktplatz)
End: Saint Wolfgang Church (St. Wolfgangskirche)
Walking Distance: 2.9 miles for the full circle route (+0.9 for Old Mills; +0.3 for Toppler Palace)
Time Required: 2-2.5 Hours For Full Walk With Sights (+60 Minutes for the Crime Museum)
Short Route: In a 0.9 minute, 30 minute loop you can do the short route with stops 1-5 and then head back to Market Square.
Fun Scale: 10 out of 10

Overview Of The City Wall:

If the colorful half-timber houses and cobblestone alleys of Rothenburg weren’t magical enough on their own, the village is also encircled by a timeless Medieval wall. As early as 1142AD, sections of the fortified stone wall were protecting the young trading center and its royal castle.

After being named a Free Imperial City in 1274, the fortifications were strengthened, the watchtowers were enhanced, and the wall was expanded as the city grew. Rothenburg grew to be the 2nd largest city in Germany by 1400 thanks to the wool trade and markets that prospered behind the protection of the 2-mile long city wall.

While the castle is long gone, the wall, its covered ramparts walkways, and many of its towers have been well preserved for your enjoyment. This preservation is because the city never expanded and modernized due to financial hardships after the 30 Years War in the 1600s and because citizens came together after WW2 to sponsor restoration from damage caused by bombings. We hope you enjoy our Rothenburg city wall walking tour as taking even a brief stroll along it shows you a side of the beautiful village that many tourists miss.