The Plönlein – Rothenburg’s landmark

What exactly is the Plönlein? And where is it in Rothenburg ob der Tauber? Many guests ask about the landmark and well most famous photo motif in Rothenburg - we use it as a starting point for a short tour of the city's historic residential buildings.

Plonlein

The Plönlein – more than a building

Many people think that the term Plönlein refers to a yellow half-timbered house in front of the entrance to the hospital district. The crooked, crooked house is actually at the center of the Plönlein. Translated, the term means Plönlein “Small place by the fountain”, the Plönlein ensemble therefore also includes the Fountains in front of the half-timbered solitaire and the two towers of the old city wall, which tower up to the left and right of it - to the left the Siebersturm, which goes into the Hospital district leads, on the right the tower of the Kobolzeller Tor from 1360, which shows the way to the Taubertal.
What is Pinocchio doing in Rothenburg?

The Plönlein is a real world star: For many people, the half-timbered house on the Plönlein represents the typical Rothenburg old town motif. Starting with Walt Disney classic “Pinocchio” (1940) its architecture is repeatedly copied by artists, architects and designers when it comes to depicting a typical medieval European backdrop. It appears in video games (Tekken Tag Tournament 2), music videos (most recently in Lil Dicky's song "Earth") and comics and Japanese manga (Little Snow Fairy Sugar, 2001).
From Plönlein via St. Mark's Tower into Herrngasse

From the Plönlein you can explore the most beautiful historic houses in the old town. From Plönlein, visitors soon reach the Old City Moat through the Untere Schmiedgasse - of course, this street is not called that by chance: the moat in front of the original city wall was filled here after the city was expanded and new living space was created on this site. One of the oldest, original houses from that time can now be seen as a museum or one City tour with the craftsman's widow Walburga visit: that Old Rothenburg craftsman's house. From here it is only a few meters to another world-famous photo opportunity in Rothenburg, the Röderbogen and St. Mark's Tower. At the time of the first city wall of Rothenburg ob der Tauber from the 13th century, this was one of four original city gates. You can find more information at Rothenburger Turmweg. The roof shape of St. Mark's Tower inspired London architects around 1900 for the building ensemble “Arcade House” and “Temple Fortune House” as an entrance to the “Hampstead Garden Suburb” district. Anyone looking for storks in Rothenburg will find them on the roof of St. Mark's Tower in spring and summer.

From St. Mark's Tower, a short walk towards the market square is enough to reach the stately patrician lane in the west of the city. On the way in Castle garden Some of the oldest properties in Rothenburg can be found in Herrngasse; today's Hotel Herrnschlösschen is considered the oldest stone house in the city.

Discover the squares of Rothenburg (1/4) - The Plönlein

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWCD4EkXJCc