Christmas in Rothenburg ob der Tauber - Germany

Last year in 2013 on Christmas break (yes, I know how far behind I am in blogging) we traveled down to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, or the German travel Mecca (Mecca meaning everyone HAS to go there) as I call it. When people back home in America found out that we had lived here a year and a half and hadn't been down to Rothenburg, they basically freaked out. "Oh! You've just got to GO!" 

So we went because everyone said we had to. We couldn't continue to miss out on Rothenburg. Because everybody knows that each little German village is completely different from the next. I mean it's not like every German village has an old town wall, and an old church or cathedral, or half-timbered houses, or a fountain in the town square. Oh wait a minute...  They do. 

Don't get me wrong. Rothenburg is a very pleasant and cute town. I just didn't feel like I was going to die if I didn't get down to see it right away. 

Rothenburg ob der Tauber is very cute and very German. When traveling there, make sure you have the right Rothenburg because there are several in Germany and I don't think the other ones are as cute.

Rothenburg is down in Bavaria on the Tauber river. Things got really rough here in the 1600's after 40,000 troops from a neighboring city-state left the town with basically nothing. Then the Black Death did another sweep through and then the city was deserted. Left with no power or money the city was unable to grow or modernize. That is why it is so cute, because it has stayed frozen in time.

There are stores that you can sell your first born for a nutcracker or a tree ornament. Yep, they're that expensive. But oh so cute and quaintly German. Germany is where most of the traditions or decoration ideas we use as Americans come from. Decorated pine tree in the house? Check. Nutcracker? Check. Anything super cute? Check. It's all German.

Here I am getting a little Christmas warmth from my hubby on this cold, German winter's day.

This is the view across the little valley Rothenburg is built near. Even in the winter I think Germany has got to be one of the most beautiful places. I am absolutely in love with green rolling hills and streams and forests and little cottages nestled next to them. I feel really lucky to call Germany home.

My kids put our dog, Minkie, up on the city wall to look down in the valley. They then realized she might jump so they held on to her for dear life. Minkie enjoys a good German view too.

The view of the walled city of Rothenburg.

The Nazis loved Rothenburg. There's something I don't think you will hear this town boasting about. The Nazis thought that it was the quintessential German home town and was the most German of Germany. They would send Nazi soldiers here for a little R'n'R. That's rest and relaxation for you non-military folks out there. 

When the Americans came into Germany at the end of WWII, they recognized the significance of Rothenburg and tried to inflict minimal damage in the taking of the town. Here is the town's castle still intact on a hill in the city.

My husband's mother was born in Bavaria so my kids feel right at home here. And we just found out that we are moving a half-hour away from Rothenburg ob der Tauber in Bavaria so now we can come here all the time. If we want to come here all the time, that is.

It started getting darker and that always means colder so it was time to go. Auf Wiedersehen for now Bavaria. We'll be seeing you again, very, very soon!

We are moving near the town of Ansbach, Germany in January 2015. Stay tuned to hear about our fun move! Because moving is always super fun, right? RIGHT?!