At the western tip of the old town, a narrow spur of rock juts out above the Tauber valley. This is where Rothenburg began: the Hohenstaufen emperors built a castle here in the 12th century, and the town grew up beside it. The castle was destroyed by an earthquake in 1356 and never rebuilt; today the spur is the Burggarten, a quiet park with lawns, old trees, sculptures and the little Blasius Chapel, the last surviving fragment of the castle.
You reach it through the fortified Burgtor at the end of the Herrngasse, and the reward is the best panorama in town: the valley 60 m below, the arches of the old double bridge, the tiny Toppler Castle and, looking back, the whole skyline of towers and red roofs.
Top things to do: Castle Garden (Burggarten)
Walk the Herrngasse to the Burgtor
Rothenburg’s widest and grandest street was home to its patrician families. Stroll down past the Herrnbrunnen fountain and the Franciscan church to the Burgtor, the oldest surviving gate.
Take in the valley views
Walk around the edge of the garden for views south to the double bridge and north along the valley. At sunset the town walls glow orange.
Hike down into the Tauber valley
Paths lead down to the river, the Toppler Castle (a tower house built in 1388 for mayor Heinrich Toppler) and the double bridge. Loop back up through the Kobolzell Gate to the Plönlein — about 1.5–2 hours.
How to get there
- From the Market Square: 5–7 minutes west along the Herrngasse.
- From the Plönlein: via the Burggasse past the Crime Museum, about 5 minutes.
- From the valley: a steep footpath climbs from the Tauber up to the Burgtor.
Insider tips
- The castle garden is free and open all day — perfect for a picnic away from the crowds.
- Go at sunset for the warmest light on the town and the valley.
- The valley paths are steep and can be muddy after rain; sturdy shoes recommended.
- Look for the “Toppler” name all over town: Heinrich Toppler was Rothenburg’s most powerful medieval mayor.
Best tours & tickets: Castle Garden (Burggarten)
These top-rated experiences are the easiest way to see Castle Garden (Burggarten) and the rest of Rothenburg:
Guided walk from €148 per group Rothenburg ob der Tauber: Private Old Town Walking Tour
The quickest way to understand what you are looking at. A licensed local guide adapts the route to your group — the Market Square and the Master Draught clock, the Plönlein, the castle garden, the town walls — and fills in the Free Imperial City history that the plaques never quite explain.
- A professional local guide just for your party
- Market Square, Plönlein, the walls and the hidden corners
- Pickup from your hotel or the station available
Day trip from €108 Frankfurt: Romantic Road & Rothenburg ob der Tauber Tour
A well-reviewed coach day trip for anyone staying in Frankfurt or flying in or out of its airport. You travel south-east along the Romantic Road, get several hours to explore Rothenburg on your own terms, and are back in Frankfurt in the evening.
- Comfortable coach from central Frankfurt
- Scenic drive along the Tauber valley stretch of the Romantic Road
- Plenty of free time inside Rothenburg
