St. Jakob’s Church (St.-Jakobs-Kirche) is Rothenburg’s main church and one of the finest Gothic buildings in Franconia. It was built between 1311 and 1484 on a pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, and its west choir famously bridges the Klingengasse: the lane runs through a vaulted passage right underneath the church.
The reason most people come is up in that west choir: the Holy Blood Altar, carved between 1500 and 1505 by the great sculptor Tilman Riemenschneider. Its centrepiece is the Last Supper, in which Judas — not Christ — stands at the centre, caught at the moment of betrayal. Above it, a rock-crystal reliquary was believed to hold a drop of Christ’s blood, which made the church a pilgrimage destination.
Top things to do: St. Jakob’s Church
See the Holy Blood Altar
Climb the stairs to the west gallery and give the altar time. The unpainted limewood, the expressive faces and the light from the windows behind make it one of the masterpieces of late-Gothic sculpture in Germany.
Look at the Twelve Apostles Altar
The high altar in the east choir (1466) combines carved figures with painted panels by Friedrich Herlin, including some of the earliest views of Rothenburg itself.
Walk under the church
Head outside to the Klingengasse and walk through the passage beneath the west choir — a quirk of medieval town planning.
How to get there
- Location: Klostergasse, one block north-west of the Market Square.
- From the station: about 12 minutes on foot.
- From the Klingen Gate: 5 minutes south along the Klingengasse.
Insider tips
- A small admission fee is charged for tourists outside service times; it supports the upkeep of the church.
- Organ concerts are held regularly, especially in summer and Advent — look for posters at the entrance.
- Photography without flash is usually allowed; be quiet and respectful, as this is an active Lutheran parish church.
- The church is closed to sightseers during services on Sunday mornings.
Best tours & tickets: St. Jakob’s Church
These top-rated experiences are the easiest way to see St. Jakob’s Church and the rest of Rothenburg:
Guided walk from €285 per group Rothenburg ob der Tauber: Private Guided Walking Tour
A private town walk priced for the whole party, which makes it one of the better deals for larger families, school groups and friends travelling together. The route covers the main square, the patrician houses of Herrngasse and the castle garden.
- Market Square, Baumeisterhaus and Herrngasse
- Priced per group of up to 15
- Flexible start times
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
