Dukes and princes had castles and residences built, art and craft flourished, magnificent edifices such as churches and other places of worship were built and made the towns and cities blossom out. Until now, there are still traces of the Middle Ages visible in Bavaria, a period about which there are so many stories, and which still fascinates so many people today.
Rothenburg ob der Tauber
In Rothenburg ob der Tauber, for example. Anyone strolling through the town doesn't need a great deal of fantasy to begin a journey back into the past. Winding lanes, colourful half-timbered houses, gables, oriels and turrets colour the image of the town, which can look back on 1000 years of history. Its landmark: a crooked half-timbered house on the Plönlein, which means something like 'the little square by the fountain'. Many of the houses which have been preserved in Rothenburg since the Middle Ages are now home to museums, and they can be visited on guided tours. An extra tip: recommend your customers to go on an evening walk with the night watchman – this theme tour takes you through dark lanes and across dimly lit squares. On the way, you can learn how the people lived in the Rothenburg of the Middle Ages.
Rothenburg Tourism Service
Marktplatz 2
91541 Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Phone: +49 9861 404-800
Email: info@rothenburg.de
Passau
The Middle Ages are also omnipresent in Passau. Here, the fortress known as the Veste Oberhaus has been standing in solitary splendour above the old city for more than 800 years, and it still reminds us today of the power of the prince-bishops who resided there in the late Middle Ages. The exhibition 'The Fascination of the Middle Ages – Life on Earth' explains the origin of the Veste and tells of the dukes, damsels, champions and servants who once lived there. And life in the city? The costume theatre tour "Passau's Glory & Misery" tells of the economic success and decline, of the diseases and catastrophes that came about in the Middle Ages. An episcopal councillor as of yore will lead your customers personally through this once mighty and prosperous city with its baroque façades.
Passau Tourism
Rathausplatz 2
94032 Passau
Phone: +49 851 396-610
Email: tourist-info@passau.de
'Stadtfuchs' Passau
Phone: +49 8514 5892
Email: stadtfuchspassau@aol.com
www.stadtfuchs-passau.de
(für Kostüm-Theaterführungen)
Nördlingen
Your customers will also feel transported into a different age in Nördlingen in Upper Swabia-Allgäu. Nördlingen, for example, is not just a superb place for strolling through winding old town lanes; you can also walk for some three kilometres along the fully preserved town wall – a feature that is unique in Germany. The walls originated in 1327 and have numerous gates and turrets. While they're walking, your customers will be able to enjoy many beautiful views out over Nördlingen.
Tourist Information
of the Town of Nördlingen
Phone: +49 90 8184-116
Email: tourist-information@noerdlingen.de
Regensburg
On a guided tour of the town in Regensburg, your customers will immerse themselves in the life of the people in the Middle Ages. What about the craft walk, which gives people the chance to look over the shoulders of goldsmiths and cobblers while they work? In the Middle Ages, Regensburg was the political centre of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation. Even today, numerous buildings and monuments tell of the town's mediaeval past. The main sights: St. Peter's Cathedral, whose tremendous twin towers rise high into the sky, and the Stone Bridge which, at the time it was built in the 12th century, was regarded as a wonder of the world.
Tourist Information
Rathausplatz 5
93047 Regensburg
Phone: +49 941 507-4410
Email: tourismus@regensburg.de
Kaltenberg
As for those who wish to learn first-hand about life in days long gone, they should go to the Middle Ages Festival in Kaltenberg, which takes place in Kaltenberg Castle on three weekends in July. There, your customers can amble across a recreated mediaeval marketplace, listen to the music of yore, watch craftspeople at work and have travelling artists make them laugh. The climax of the festival is the jousting tournament in the big arena. For more information and tickets, go to www.ritterturnier.de
Würzburg
Quite apart from that, Bavaria is mediaeval burgenland in many places: Passau has the Veste Oberhaus, and the Marienberg Fortress, which contains the Museum of Franconia, towers above the Franconian metropolis of Würzburg.
Tourist Information Würzburg
im Falkenhaus am Markt
Phone.: +49 931 37 23 35
Email: tourismus@wuerzburg.de
Coburg
Another impressive fortress, where valuable art collections are on show, watches over Coburg, right up in the north of the Free State.
Coburg Marketing
Phone: +49 9561 89-8000
Email: marketing@coburg.de
Landshut
In the East Bavarian town of Landshut, Trausnitz Castle sits enthroned on a hill. All these are fortifications which originated back in the Middle Ages but were later extended and converted. Some 60 castles are connected up by the Castle Road, 780 kilometres in length. It runs from Mannheim to Bayreuth, and will enable your customers to experience Bavaria's mediaeval castle romanticism as they go.
Tourist Information Landshut
Tel.: +49 871 92205-0
E-mail: tourismus@landshut.de
