Not so long back, we gave the Small People the choice of where in Bavaria they would most like to visit before we left. Having been completely enchanted by their first visit to Rothenburg Ob Der Tauber in the middle of May a couple of years ago, they wanted to visit when it really was Christmas. A great choice, as even at the start of summer it felt quite festive (not difficult with it’s year round Christmas shops and museums!), so to really see it at the height of the festive season was truly lovely… As the main photographer of the family, I wasn’t about to complain!
There really isn’t much to moan about when you have a medieval subject like this after all…
Although snow would have been preferable, we were blessed with blue skies, I think I took around 500 seasonal photographs that first day day, before a welcome reward in the shape of a steaming hot mug of gluhwein in the markets, swiftly followed by a delicious meal in Hell… Zur Höll (to Hell!) is not only one of the oldest houses in Rothenburg (dating back to 900), it also happens to be a really cosy restaurant where we enjoyed traditional goose and red cabbage, and lots of seasonal puds!
Do make sure you book – at any time of year booking is pretty mandatory in these parts – but then in December there are always the Christmas Markets to fall back on where you can find plenty of seasonal eats (be warned though, they close quite early here compared to Munich’s big affairs – 7pm on a week night, 8pm on a weekend)…
We even managed to find the Nightwatchman to say hello to (although a freezing cold sleety night saw us wimp out of his tour this time, but it’s really worth going on if you haven’t done it before), and of course we had to have a snow ball or two – tis the season and all that.
Do put this place firmly on your Christmas travel lists, it’s so lovely I didn’t even mind the freezing fog and gloomy weather the following day, and neither did somebody else…
Our last sojourn in Bavaria (as residents!) How strange that sounds…
Looks amazing I love the Christmas trees lit up high along the street. This place defines Christmas!
Thanks Louise! (:
Looks amazing I love the Christmas trees lit up high along the street. This place defines Christmas!
It really does. Thanks Louise! :)
What a perfect place for a real Christmas experience. Hell looks very tempting too!
It was sooo Christmassy, although a little snow would have been nice. I have to say I really enjoyed Hell! :D x
It looks like a wonderful place to visit! All the buildings are so beautiful, so different to the building here in the Uk! x
It’s almost fairytale like here. Thanks Sonia! :) x
Just the houses make me feel Christmassy, such a beautiful place. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas :)
Thanks Kara. I hope you had a great Christmas! :)
Oh your photographs are lovely – they’re so festive! I would have loved to have been let loose with my camera x x
Thank you Cass! (: xx