Medieval Musical Tour of Rothenburg: Live Performances & History
Medieval music and the town's own story, performed as you walk it
A guided tour of Rothenburg ob der Tauber combining live medieval and Renaissance vocal and recorder performances with the town's history, led by a guide in the character of Margareta von Schwangau. The tour moves through seven stops, Market Square, St. Johannes Church, the Tauber Valley observation deck, das Plönlein, the Linden Tree, Hospital Quarter Square, and Spitalbastei, with live performances at each major stop and takes roughly two hours. Children under 12 are free. Children 13 and older are charged as adults.
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Step-by-step itinerary
Medieval music and history tour
- Meet at Market Square/Town Hall
- Introduction to Minnesang and legend
- Live song by Oswald von Wolkenstein
- Visit St. Johannes Church and Crime Museum
- Learn about medieval chant and Black Death
- Live chant performance
- Stop at An der Eich Observation Deck
- Learn about Wolfram von Eschenbach and castle history
- Live song by Wolfram von Eschenbach
- Visit Das Plönlein and city wall history
- Introduction to Neidhart von Reuental
- Live song by Neidhart von Reuental
- Stop at Linden Tree and Fischturm
- Learn about Walter von der Vogelweide and Minnesang
- Live song Under the Linden
- Visit Nag's Mill and grain storage history
- Visit Hospital Quarter Square
- Learn about hospital and Renaissance architecture
- Enter church to learn about mystery composer
- Live performance in church
- Visit Spitalbastei fortification
- Learn about mercenary soldiers and last composer
- Live song for mercenary soldiers
- Tour ends
The experience
The tour starts at Market Square in front of the Town Hall, where the guide introduces Minnesang (the courtly love songs of medieval Germany), and explains her character as the wife of the last Minnesänger. You'll hear about the Meistertrunk, a UNESCO World Heritage event tied to the town's survival, and the history of the Glockenspiel before a live performance of a song by Oswald von Wolkenstein, a 15th-century composer. From there the route moves to St. Johannes Church and the Medieval Crime Museum, where you see the original 12th-century city wall and learn how medieval chant connected to the Black Death and the church's role in the period: another live performance follows.
The walk then climbs to the Tauber Valley observation deck, where the guide introduces Wolfram von Eschenbach and medieval ideas of love and romance while pointing out the medieval double bridge, vineyard valley, and the castle of the Staufer Dynasty. A song by Wolfram von Eschenbach is performed here. At das Plönlein, you hear the history of the buildings and the first expansion of the old city wall, with a performance by Neidhart von Reuental, whose lyrics depicted the lives of the middle and lower classes. The Linden Tree stop covers the tree's role in medieval and modern German culture, with a performance of "Under the Linden" by Walter von der Vogelweide and more detail on how Minnesang evolved. Nag's Mill, a Renaissance building in the town center, explains medieval grain storage practices.
Hospital Quarter Square marks the second and final expansion of the medieval city wall. The guide explains the hospital, church, and staff residences and points out Renaissance architectural details. Inside the church, you learn about a mystery medieval composer born in 1098 (a nun whose influence touched politics, science, and Christianity) with a live performance of her work. The tour ends at Spitalbastei, the largest and youngest fortification in Rothenburg, where the guide explains the role of mercenary soldiers in the Renaissance and performs a song written for them. Tours are available as single tickets on selected days, small group tours of up to 15 people, or private tours for up to 15 adults.
What’s included
- A live guide in English leading the tour through seven stops.
- live vocal and recorder performances of medieval and Renaissance composers at each major stop.
- introduction to Minnesang and medieval German musical history.
- access to the Medieval Crime Museum area and views of the Tauber Valley observation deck, das Plönlein, the Linden Tree, Hospital Quarter Square, and Spitalbastei fortification.
Before you book
Prices and times updated 3 days ago
Operated by Medieval Musical Tour of Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Is this one for you?Choose the small group (up to 15 people) if you want a guide and live music without the cost of a private tour, or book privately if your group prefers to experience the performance and history without other travelers present.
Traveler reviews
Top questions
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
What is the Meistertrunk that the guide mentions at Market Square?
The Meistertrunk is a UNESCO World Heritage event tied to Rothenburg's history and survival. The guide explains its significance at the start of the tour at Market Square.
Will I hear live music throughout the tour or only at certain stops?
Live performances happen at the major stops, Market Square, St. Johannes Church, the Tauber Valley observation deck, das Plönlein, the Linden Tree, inside the church at Hospital Quarter Square, and at Spitalbastei, so music is woven through the whole walk.
Are children charged for this tour?
Children under 12 are free and are not charged as paying participants. Children 13 and older are charged as adults.
How long does the tour take?
The tour takes roughly two hours, moving through seven stops across the medieval town.
What is the Medieval Crime Museum and do we enter it?
The Medieval Crime Museum is located at St. Johannes Church, one of the tour's main stops. You see the original 12th-century city wall there and learn about the church's role in the medieval period during the guided portion.
Is the tour accessible for people using wheelchairs or strollers?
The tour is wheelchair accessible. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, and service animals are allowed.
Medieval Musical Tour of Rothenburg: Live Performances & History
1h 45m · EN
from € 99 per group
5.0044 reviewsVerified traveler reviews via our booking provider