Rothenburg ob der Tauber (Germany Bavaria)

Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a Tauber River/Main River cruise port and town in Germany's Bavaria state (Mittelfranken/Franconia region, Ansbach district) with population around 11,000. The town is best-known worldwide for downtown's well-preserved medieval buildings. Rothenburg is also on Southern Germany's Romantische Strasse (Romantic Road) - a 350-km / 220 mi long network of roads through the states Bavaria and Baden-Wurttemberg (between Wurzburg and Fussen).

On river cruises, Rothenburg is accessed via Romantische Strasse (Germany's "Romantic Road"). The route's scenery is marked by small medieval towns, castles and palaces. Following the debarkation in Wurzburg, cruisers are bused to Rothenburg. After touring the Old Town follows a short drive to Ochsenfurt (Main River) where they reboard the cruise ship at lunchtime. In the afternoon, cruise tourists usually enjoy free time exploration in Ochsenfurt then return to the boat to continue the voyage.

Rothenburg (translated "red fortress") is also famous for its scenic location - on a plateau overlooking River Tauber (tributary of Main River). The settlement was built around the 10th-century Rothenburg Castle. The fortress was owned by the Counts of Comburg-Rothenburg between 950-1116 AD. The town became Freie Reichsstadt (Free Imperial City / self-ruling) in 1274. In the following centuries, it was developed as market town and largely expanded. Rothenburg also became a pilgrimage destination following the building in 14th-century of a Franciscan Monastery, Holy Ghost Hospital, St Jakobskirche (St James Church / early16th-century) and Heilig Blut (Holy Blood).

During the Holy Roman Empire (800-1806 AD), Rothenburg was one of empire's 20 largest cities, with population around 20,000 and a surrounding territory of approx 390 km2 (150 mi2). However, during the Thirty Years War (1618-48), in 1631 the town was plundered by Catholic League forces, then in 1634 devasted by a bubonic plague outbreak. These events caused the town to stop growing, thus perfectly preserving its 17th-century infrastructure and architecture.

Rothenburg's best-known tourist attractions and landmarks include museums (Kriminalmuseum/Criminal, Reichsstadtmuseum/Imperial City, Puppen und Spielzeugmuseum/Doll and Toy, Schafertanzmuseum/Shepherds Dance, Weihnachtsmuseum/Christmas, Handwerkerhaus/Craft House), 16th-17th-century buildings (St James Church, Town Wall, Plonlein, Spitalbastei/bastion, St.-Wolfgangs-Kirche/fortified church, St Blasius Kapelle/chapel), Toppler Castle, Tauber Bridge, Wildbad Rothenburg (20th-century spa hotel, Altes Brauhaus (brewing house), Rodertor Gate, Detwang (St Peter und Paul Kirche/church), Old Smithy and Town Hall, Franziskanerkloster (Franciscan Friary/church).

As cruise port, Rothenburg is regularly included in the schedule of Viking River Cruises - world's largest river cruise company by fleet (vessel number) and passenger capacity. In 2019, the riverport was included in the schedules of the riverboats (patented Viking Longship-class inland cruisers) Mimir, Baldur, Vili, Skirnir, Magni, Ve, Bragi, Modi, Tir, Skadi. Other major European cruise companies with itineraries visiting Rothenburg included Scylla Cruises via the boat charters (cruisetour operators) Tauck (ship Esprit) and Riviera Travel (ship Jane Austen). Next tables show some of the Rothenburg-inclusive itineraries as riverport sequences and lowest prices per person (based on double occupancy).

(Viking) 14-day itinerary between homeports Budapest and Amsterdam, prices from ~USD 4800 pp

(Tauck) 21-day itinerary between homeports Amsterdam and Bucharest, prices from ~USD 12,000 pp

(Riviera Travel) 7-day itinerary between homeports Mainz and Nuremberg, prices from ~USD 2000 pp