Germany > On the Way to Rothenburg

Today, Nicolette and I set out on a road trip through Germany and Switzerland. An exciting journey this time. The coronavirus is still widespread across Europe, and infections are rising again in many countries. Several countries are closing their borders to Dutch travelers. Travelers must quarantine upon entry. We plan to travel through Germany, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland. At the moment, all countries are ‘accessible,’ but the situation can change suddenly. We take the risk and keep an eye on the news daily. At nine o’clock, we leave Delft. It’s not too busy. In the north of the country, the holidays end this weekend. It’s somewhat cloudy, and there’s a hazy layer over the landscape. The weather is different from last week when temperatures were over thirty degrees for more than a week. Just over the border with Germany, near Oberhausen, things go wrong for a moment. There is roadwork on the A3, and on- and off-ramps are closed. We think we should take the detour route, but this leads us into the town of Dinslaken. The detour was only intended for local traffic to Dinslaken. Because several on- and off-ramps are closed, it’s difficult to get back on the highway. Eventually, the navigation helps us. We drive towards Cologne, Frankfurt, and Würzburg. Around four o’clock, we arrive in the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Our guesthouse is located on the edge of the old town. We are kindly received. We get a full explanation of how, due to corona measures, we can reach our room in the hotel via a one-way route. We understand the explanation but not the signage in the corridors. The owner walks with us. We pass several doors with signs saying we must not go through them. Oh well. The room is fine. We quickly unload the luggage from the car. From the hotel, we walk into the old town of Rothenburg. Just after passing through the city gate, we see numerous old timber-framed houses. What a charming and cozy little town this is. Beautiful historic buildings on both sides. At the market square in front of the town hall are pleasant terraces.

Germany - The Plonlein halftimbered house is the most famous spot in Rothenburg

In a nearby street, we order a drink on a terrace. The vacation has truly begun. In the evening, we have a reservation for dinner in the old center. This turns out to be for good reason. Only guests with reservations are admitted to the cozy courtyard. After dinner, we stroll through the streets of Rothenburg. The houses are beautifully illuminated. One of the most famous postcard images from Rothenburg ob der Tauber is certainly the Plönlein. It is a narrow timber-framed house with a small fountain in front, accompanied by the Kobolzeller Tower and the taller Siebers Tower. Restored mansions stand on both sides.