Rothenburg Wall Walk

Today the weather was much improved. We spent part of the day walking around the town wall and the rest of the day was spent re-enacting the 30 Years War and the attack on Rothenburg.

This is the part of the town wall where we started our wall walk from.

View from the wall

Some more brave walkers making the ascent

Some parts of the wall are very close to people's houses.

And in this case, a bit too close.

The wall walk gives great views of Rothenburg's architecture including this lovely building.

And in this photo where you can see the lovely medieval buildings with the church in the background.

At the end of each wall section you encounter this steep descent.

Lower down on the ground this is the approach that besiegers would have taken when attacking Rothenburg. Here we are being led by our general or walk leader.

Here our general is just waiting for some of his troops to catch up.

This is the bridge where the German garrison surrendered to American troops in World War 2 and saved the town from destruction.

After overcoming the town's defenders we took over this amphitheatre next to the wall.

Another shot of the wall and amphitheatre.

Very stylish roof design which gives the impression of half-open eyes from a distance.

Rothenburg's pharmacies always appear to be housed in very lovely buildings.

Beautiful graveside figurine in Rothenburg cemetary.

If you were looking for some Christmas tat this could have been the shop to go to but it turned out to be a cycle shop.

As an army marches on its stomach we decided to raid the town's ample warehouses.

After plundering the town's food supplies we retired to the roadside inn next door and came across this curious contraption in the men's toilets. Turns out to be a urinal with its own lid. Now comes the vexed question on toilet etiquette: does a man leave the lid up for the next male user or close it out of a sense of decency? Ladies are allowed to take part in this discussion by leaving comments.

Rothenburg takes on a whole new character when the sun goes down and the buildings are floodlit.

Part of the Christmas market outside the Town Hall.

The market is filled with attractive stalls selling all kind of wares.

From beautiful candles...

to savoury sausages...

and things to satisfy your sweet tooth.

The Christmas market even caters for young children...

and star gazers.

The town's restaurants are well lit.

As well as the town's walls.

This lovely building has all kinds of Christmas goods.

Another part of the wall surrounded by lit buildings.

This is our hotel and restaurant.

I had assumed when we booked into the hotel that everyone had the same type of room. I found out at dinner tonight that my room was a bit special with a hand-painted large bed and bedside cabinets and Christmas decorations in the window.

And this beautiful hand-painted wardrobe and desk. I've put these photos on the blog to make the rest of the group insanely jealous.