Itinerary followed during this Interrail throughout Germany, Denmark and Switzerland

Cologne - Koblenz - Copenhagen - Helsingor - Hillerod - Roskilde - Berlin - Potsdam - Rhine cruise - Freiburg - Strasbourg - Black Forest - Rhine Waterfalls - Schaffhausen - Stein am Rhein - Konstanz - Zurich - Basel - Interlaken - Luzern - Zermatt - Brig - Bern - Geneva - Heidelberg - Munich - Dachau - Fussen - Nuremberg - Rothenburg (ODT) - Wurzburg - Jungfrau and Lauterbrunnen - Brienz - Geneva

One of the prettiest cities in Germany , located in the Romantic Route. It is 1h. far from Nuremberg by train. The city, the walls, the gates, the houses have conserved the authentic medieval aspect. The sensation that one experiments when crossing the gates is that one is entering other world and returning to Middle Ages, except for the lots of tourists with whom you have to share it.
Rothenburg acquired significance when, at the beginning of 12th century Conrad III converted it in one of its imperial residences. When during 1274 it was declared "free-city" Rothenburg started its economic boom and its embellishment. It positioned on The Reform side during the 30 Years War, and it cost them the general Tilly´s siege in 1631. However the city got rid of the tragic final with an original bet. Tilly challenged any citizen to drink 3,25 l. of Franconia wine in a unique gulp. If anyone was able to do it, the city would become free. The mayor accepted the challenge, and by means of the so-called "master gulp" he saved the city. Since then the city came to a standstill in its past. In 1803 it was annexed to Bavaria and during the 19 th century the authorities decided to preserve the authentic architecture, that we have to thank now.

From this tower the panorama is incredible, and the ascent is very amazing, as it conserves the medieval structure. The Market square transports to visitors to the atmosphere that these city life centres should have during Middle Ages.

The gate led in the past to the yard of the old castle. Nowadays there is no castle, but we appreciate lovely views comprising the city, the walls and the river. It was placed here in 1142 the Imperial castle, destroyed by an earthquake in 1356. The Saint Blas chapel is a vestige of the castle palace. The steep slopes towards the river were cut down, thus converting the city into an impregnable stronghold. In fact no attack was attempted from the valley. This is the reason of the city's complete name: Rothenburg "ob der Tauber" (over the Tauber).

Afterwards we headed towards the Hospital bastion through other magnificent street. This fortress from the 16th century is located in the southern point and it has a very unique and original shape. It has two rounds and seven gates. It is allowed to walk along the artillery platform, and if you look over the walls you can see the ancient houses yards.

There are infinite tourist shops. There is one that you can't miss, called "the Christmas Village" . It is a shop dedicated only to Christmas articles. It is gigantic, but it is not disposed as a warehouse, as they show a very good taste with the decoration, with several rooms full with colours and brights everywhere.

I won't explain anything more about the visit, although there are many not detailed things. The reason is that Rothenburg is amazing mainly on the whole: houses, mills, gates, towers, churches, museums, streets and squares have interest because of the spectacular group when they are summed, rather than individually.