Germany : Rothenburg ob der Tauber

With its jumble of half-timbered houses enclosed by Germany's best-preserved ramparts, Rothenburg ob der Tauber lays on the medieval cuteness with a trowel. It's an essential stop on the Romantic Road but, alas, overcrowding can detract from its charm. Visit early or late in the day (or, ideally, stay overnight) to experience this historic wonderland sans crowds.

JakobskircheCHURCH

Rothenburg's majestic 500-year-old Lutheran parish church shelters the Heilig Blut Altar (Sacred Blood Altar), a supremely intricate altarpiece by medieval master carver Tilman Riemenschneider (it's up the stairs behind the organ).

RathausturmHISTORIC BUILDING

Climb the 220 steps of the medieval town hall to the viewing platform of the Rathausturm to be rewarded with widescreen views of the Tauber.

StadtmauerHISTORIC SITE

(Town Wall)

Follow in the footsteps of sentries on a walk along Rothenburg's original 15th-century town fortifications. A 2.5km stretch of it is accessible, but even a short walk 5m to 7m above the ground delivers tremendous views over the town's red roofs.

Mittelalterliches KriminalmuseumMUSEUM

Medieval implements of torture and punishment are on show at this gruesomely fascinating museum. Exhibits include chastity belts, masks of disgrace for gossips, a cage for cheating bakers, a neck brace for quarrelsome women and a beer-barrel pen for drunks. You can even snap a selfie of yourself in the stocks!

The Romantic Road Coach pauses in town for 45 minutes.

There are hourly trains to/from Steinach, a transfer point for service to Würzburg (€12.90, 1¼ hours).

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