Mainz Rothenburg Nuremburg

November 06, 2017

Day 9

Got up early to put the luggage out so then walked across the bridge and looked back across the Rhine River. It was a beautiful sight!

Even the water is interesting here. Wonder what we are drinking?

We left Mainz as the sun was rising over the Rhine River.

We entered medieval Rothenburg around 11:00 a.m. The gate and watch were rebuilt after WWII in the medieval style.

The church steeple with a small bulb.

Half-timber building inside the walls.

The wine bottles in Rothenburg are shaped differently.

Schneeballs in the bakery. A unique pastry to Rothenburg.

The Ratstrinkstube clock tower at noon. The doors are open as we saw a reenactment of the legend of the heroic mayor who saved his town by drinking a gallon of wine. Count Tilly is on the left and Mayor is on the right.

The protestant town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber was seized by the imperial army led by a man named Count Tilly, a catholic, in 1631 during the thirty year war. Count Tilly was going to destroy the town. The town begged for mercy but nothing seemed to help. Finally at the Ratstrinkstube, the town offered him a large tankard of the best local wine. His mood changed and he decided to challenge the townsfolk. If one could drink the entire tankard all in one swig he would spare the town. Burgermeister Nusch agreed to the challenge and successfully drank the entire tankard in one draught. The town was spared.