Church tour
Church tour through Rothenburg ob der Tauber: from the Taubertal to the place of pilgrimage
St. Jakob is the eye-catcher in the center of the old town - but when exploring Rothenburg you come across other churches with special stories. There are exciting learning videos here St. Jacob and to Franziskanerkirche.
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St. Jacob
Looking for the Holy Blood Altar
Where?
church SquareWhat?
St. Jacob's Church was completed in 1485 after 173 years of construction. Initially Catholic, it later became a Protestant church and is still the main church in Rothenburg today. As an alternative to the classic visitor tour, you can get to know St. Jacob's Church via an audio guide. Particular highlights are the organ concerts that take place here throughout the year.Quick fact:
A statue of St. Jacob greets you in front of the church. Around 1000 pilgrims visit guest pastor Oliver Gußmann every year.Don't miss:
There are TWO altars in the Church of St. Jacob. The Twelve Messengers Altar by Friedrich Herlin is the first place many visitors head for. The oldest representation of the Rothenburg market square can be found on the main altar in the east choir of St. Jakob. The second altar in the west wing of the church is also a gem. The entire skill of the Würzburg artist Tilman Riemenschneider can be seen in the Holy Blood Altar.Opening hours:
St. Jacob's Church is open as follows:
from 01.01. The church is open from 31.03.2023 p.m. to 12.00 p.m. until March 15.00, XNUMX.Guides:
- from April daily at 11.00 a.m. and 14.30:10.30 p.m. (Sundays and public holidays immediately after the service, i.e. XNUMX:XNUMX a.m.)
- From January 07th to March 26th the tour takes place on Saturday and Sunday at 14.30:XNUMX p.m
Contact:
Parish of St. Jacob
Klostergasse 15, 91541 Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Phone: +09861 700620 XNUMX
pfarramt@rothenburgtauber-evangelisch.de
www.rothenburgtauber-evangelisch.de -
Franziskanerkirche
The Patrician Church
Where?
HerrngasseWhat?
The church of the Franciscan mendicant order was consecrated in 1309 and is now Protestant. Inside you will find gravestones with the names of the Rothenburg patrician families who once lived in the nearby Herrngasse.Quick fact:
There is still an original wooden rood screen in the Franciscan Church - such a rood screen once separated the laity from the monks in churches.Don't miss:
Next to the Franciscan Church, there is an information board about Pope Francis in the Montessori Garden. The Argentinian learned German in the 80s in Rothenburg at what was then the Goethe Institute next to the church.Opening hours:
Open again from April 30th after renovation!Contact:
Parish of St. Jacob
Klostergasse 15, 91541 Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Phone: +09861 700620 XNUMX
pfarramt@rothenburgtauber-evangelisch.de
www.rothenburgtauber-evangelisch.de -
St. John's
Rothenburg's Catholic Church
Where?
SchmiedgasseWhat?
The St. John's Church originally emerged from the branch of the Order of St. John around 1200. Around 1400 the church was redesigned in the late Gothic style.Quick fact:
From 1600 onwards, the attic of St. John's Church was converted into the largest municipal granary.Definitely do:
Behind the St. John's Church you will find one of the most beautiful views. In the street An der Eich, the view from a pulpit leads over the vineyard towards Taubertal and Burggarten.Opening hours:
The St. Johannis Church in Burggasse is always open and can be visited, including to pause and pray.Contact:
Parish office in Rothenburg
Burggasse 20
91541 Rothenburg
Phone: +09861 5011 XNUMX
www.st-johannis-rothenburg.de -
Wolfgang's Church
Defensive on the outside, spiritual on the inside
Where?
Blade GateWhat?
St. Wolfgang is integrated into the defenses of the city wall at the Klingentor, defiant and equipped with loopholes. In the main nave, however, there is artistic, late Gothic tracery next to three altars from around 1500. St. Wolfgang himself was also built around this time, exactly on the spot where the shepherds had been seeking protection for their flocks from St. Wolfgang for years.Little fact:
St. Wolfgang is home to the Historical Shepherd Dance Association, which has an exhibition here that provides information about the importance of sheep farming and the wool trade in medieval Rothenburg.Definitely do:
Up and down - you can get a first-hand impression of the defenses both in the casemates and on the city wall in the Wolfgangskirche.Opening hours:
From April 1.4.2023, XNUMX, the St. Wolfgang Church will be open regularly again.Contact:
Historical shepherd dance
Klingentorbastei, 91541 Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Phone: +0171 3662391 XNUMX
u.bach@gmx.net
www.schaefertanzrothenburg.de -
Holy Spirit Church
Assistance in the hospital district
Where?
hospital alleyWhat?
The Protestant Holy Spirit Church is located in the hospital district of Rothenburg. The hospital was built around 1280 from a foundation and was previously located outside the narrow city wall. The sick and poor were cared for in the hospital, and travelers who arrived after the southern city gate was closed were able to stay overnight.Quick fact:
In 1308 the altar was consecrated by the Eichstadt Cistercian Bishop Philipp.Definitely do:
The art-historical special feature is the sacrament house from 1390. The naked Christ child floats on a rainbow from the heavenly to the earthly world. Below is the Annunciation scene, depicting Mary with the angel Gabriel.Opening hours:
daily 9.00 a.m. to 17.00 p.m
in summer until 18.00 p.m
Subject to changeContact:
Holy Spirit Parish
Spitalgasse 46, 91541 Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Phone: +09861 3466 XNUMX
pfarramt.heil-geist.rot@elkb.de -
St. Peter and Paul's Church
Short walk to Detwang
Where?
DetwangWhat?
Set off and hike through the countryside to beautiful Detwang in the Taubertal! After about a twenty-minute walk from the Rothenburg Castle Garden, you will reach the St. Peter and Paul Church with its Gothic arcades.Quick fact:
This is probably the origin of Rothenburg. Detwang was first mentioned in documents in 960. The church is over 1000 years old.Definitely do:
Visit the Holy Cross Altar, attributed to Tilman Riemenschneider and his workshop.Opening hours:
on demand.
Church service (Protestant): Sundays at 9.00 a.m., followed by a free guided tour (in summer, subject to change)Contact:
Detwang parish
Klostergasse 15, 91541 Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Phone: +09861 700620 XNUMX
pfarramt@rothenburgtauber-evangelisch.de
www.rothenburgtauber-evangelisch.de -
Kobozell Church
In the landscape garden on the Tauber
Where?
Vineyard An der EichWhat?
The small church on the Tauber, at the foot of the city, was built between 1472 and 1505. It was looted during the Peasants' War in 1525 and then only poorly preserved without use. In 1804 it was sold and desecrated.Quick fact:
From 1854 to 1860, St. Mary's Church was restored by Alexander Heideloff and made available to the Catholic community.Definitely do:
A short walk (about 10 minutes) from the city wall at the Medieval Crime Museum through Rothenburg's vineyard and you are at the church, idyllically located on the Tauber.Exterior viewing possible at any time. Interior viewing only as part of guided tours.
Contact:
Parish office in Rothenburg
Burggasse 20
91541 Rothenburg
Phone: +09861 5011 XNUMX
www.st-johannis-rothenburg.de
