We left Chemnitz for Rothenburg ob der Tauber, the beautiful walled medieval town. Rothenburg is located west of Nurnberg and south, south-east of Wurzburg. We arrived around 3:00 in the afternoon. We took the opportunity to walk the wall around the city. 
Sights outside and inside the walled city. 
Some of the steps we climbed; a cannon to protect the city. 
Rothenburg is a 'working' city and as such there is quite a bit of car traffic along the narrow roads.
That evening, we met in the hotel wine cellar for wine tasting from the hotel vineyards. Did you know that grapes that make red wines grow in warmer regions and grapes that make white wines grow in cooler regions? We 'tasted' five very fine white wines.
The next morning, Charlie, our tour guide, had arranged for an English-speaking guide to take us on a tour of the city. 
Two of the fifteen fountains located throughout the city; strategically placed for fire protection. St. George's Fountain, on the left, was built in 1446 and remodelled in Renaissance style in 1608.
The Councillors' Tavern was built around 1446, the clock installed in the gable in 1683 and the "Meistertrunk" scene added in 1910. The "Meistertrunk" scene reenacts the legendary moment in 1631, when retired Mayor Nusch saved the town from being razed by draining almost a gallon (3 1/4 liters) of wine at one draught. They say he slept for the next three days. 
The bars placed to the left of the doorway are the measurements of the day, so that both the buyer and seller used the same measurement in their trading. 
St. James Church, in the background, is the town's principal church. Construction went on from 1300 - 1490. Of particular interest is the Holy Blood Alter (1504) by Tilman Riemenschneider. The stained glass windows, covered when we were there, were removed during WWII. 
Vineyards in the foreground on the left. 
We took a walk in the afternoon and found this bicycle store. There were about a half dozen very small children's bicycles in the store. We saw children who looked to be no more than three years old, riding these small bicycles!
# posted by Martha @ 7:56 PM
