Rothenburg

Although you have probably never heard of it (unless you've traveled through this part of Germany), Rothenburg is a very well-preserved, and very touristy medieval town. Located roughly halfway between Frankfurt and Munich, it makes for a nice day-trip or stopover on the way to another destination. The protective wall around the city, as well as the guard towers that line the wall, are extremely well preserved. Unlike most medieval towns, Rothenburg was never destroyed in war. As the legend has it, during the 30-Years War, the town was spared only because of the Mayor's drinking ability. Basically, an invading commander said that he would not destroy the town if the Mayor could drink 6 pints of wine in one go. Well, the Mayor did it, and Rothenburg is still preserved to this day. The cup the Mayor drank from is on display in one of the museums in town.

While the town is very scenic, and has many things that spark the imagination, it is so touristy we couldn't take more than a few hours of it. For God's sake, there's even a McDonald's here made to look like a medieval shop. Regardless, it does make for a nice stop, and if you can see past all of the tourisist traps, it is a good place to visit.