Great Rivers of Europe - 7

Hi, On May 8 Ruthe and I elected to take an optional trip off the ship to the walled town of Rothenberg, Germany.

This view is from inside the walls and shows two of the watch towers and a stairway leading up to the covered rampart.

As in many other European countries the Germans take great pride in the appearance of their property (above and two below).

Many of the businesses have elaborate signs hanging outside their establishments.

One of the gates into the town is at the bottom of a steep hill.

A clock tower faces the main square.

From 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM and then again at 9:00 PM and 10:00 PM the figures (above and below) appear to drink wine when the clock strikes the hour.

Facing the square at a 90 degree angle to the clock tower is the city hall.

The square is paved with cobblestones.

While walking around the town we came across a small garden commemorating a Jewish scholar who resided in Rothenberg and the Jewish Community which was destroyed in the Holocaust (above and two below).

A number of tombstones found in the town in 1914 and dating from 1266 to 1395 are set into the wall surrounding the garden.

The town's museum had a Judaica section with menorahs,

a Torah,

a number of grave stones, and

other items including this Shofar (rams horn) and two pointers for Torah readers.

The museum also had this middle age kitchen set up.

Here is another of the town gates.  Thanks for looking.