The One with Christmas in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Merry Christmas Eve!

Yesterday on Christmas Eve Eve (or Christmas Adam as I've heard it called, haha) we went to Rothenburg ob der Tauber to enjoy the Christmas market. (We went to Rothenburg ob der Tauber last September and checked out the town more in depth then.)

It's about an hour and 45 minute drive away and I passed the time by reading all about Naples and Pompeii - our next big adventure. We parked the car in lot P5 and made our way through the amazingly intact rampart walls.
Oh Rothenburg! How charming you are!
Jane and Fox in front of a large (and small!) door.
Window shopping at its finest.
HALF-TIMBERED LOVE!
Straight out of a fairytale.
Here we are in magical Rothenburg.
We were a little hungry so we popped into one of the many bakeries.
A sweet ol' German lady pointed out sweets to Fox and Jane. We bought a couple treats and went on our way.
The main market square.
I love how the buildings in Germany are painted so many different colors.
Chris wanted to go back inside St. Jakob's Church and see the amazing wooden altarpiece again.

Instantly brought the Christmas spirit into my heart.
Wow.
Upstairs is the glorious 500-year-old, 35-foot-high Altar of the Holy Blood. Tilman Riemenschneider, the Michelangelo of German woodcarvers, carved this from 1499-1504 to hold a precious rock-crystal capsule set in a cross that contains a scrap of tablecloth miraculously stained in the shape of a cross by a drop of communion wine.
By the time we were finished at the church the Christmas market was in full swing. First stop: the carousel.
When Fox chose to sit in a fish, of course Jane wanted to sit in a fish too!
Christmas markets in Germany. Sigh. All your senses are awakened and you get a sense of nostalgia, happiness, and merriment. From the hints of cinnamon and spices, the smell of warm loaves of bread, hot chocolate being passed around to keep people warm, Christmas lights and decorations in all directions, children's choirs and brass bands playing Christmas tunes - it all comes together to form a magic that puts a smile on everyone's face.
I got a nutella crepe and Jane literally ate half of it (that girl and chocolate!) and then we got a 1/2 meter-long Franconian feuerwurst
Too legit to quit.
Frohe Weihnachten = Merry Christmas!
Want something Christmas-y? I'm sure you can find it in one of the dozens of booths!
Käthe Wohlfahrt - the eternal Christmas store - is based in Rothenburg. 
There are two Käthe Wohlfahrt stores right across the street from each other.
Inside is a winter wonderland. 
I felt like I was at the North Pole in Santa Claus' workshop.
We meandered to the main market square.
Booths galore!
Perusing.
It was about 44 degrees and poor Janey's hands were icicles (Note to self: buy her some gloves) so we headed back the car.
A few more shots of my favorite buildings.
So glad I was able to get "the" view of Rothenburg - somehow I totally missed it last time!
Oh Germany. I love you!
Comments (6)

6 comments

  1. Julie Tucker-WolekDecember 24, 2014 at 4:42 AM

    So beautiful!! LOVING that church altar!!!!! Merry Christmas!!!!

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  2. ChrisDecember 24, 2014 at 5:24 AM

    That trip hit the spot! Perfect place to spend Christmas Eve eve.

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  3. JenniferDecember 24, 2014 at 9:55 AM

    Gorgeous place! Enjoy your trip to Naples. We lived there for 3 years(attached to a NATO unit, lived on the NAS support in Gricignano) and really loved it. If you can, go to Ercolano(Herculaneum), and also the coast is gorgeous going to Capri, etc. I miss all the food- Zeppole, neapolitan pizza, etc. The local LDS churches are also pretty fabulous- the branch in Caserta that the navy base is assigned to is right near a palace, and the branch offices have a gorgeous view of the bay of Napoli.

    Feel free to email me if you have any questions about the area. It's been a few years but I am glad to help where I can and we still have friends there.

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  4. Carolyn TaylorDecember 24, 2014 at 5:07 PM

    Awesome photos! I love that Jane wears her leopard coat everywhere.

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  5. his little ladyDecember 29, 2014 at 5:47 PM

    Oh gosh, Jane in that leopard coat and hat is just the cutest!! And I've heard only good things about Rothenburg! Jut the cutest!!

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  6. jbonomoJanuary 7, 2015 at 5:41 PM

    Paige, thank you for bringing back wonderful memories of our trip to Rothenburg in June with your photos. I have to say Christmas time makes the town come alive. i can smell Chris's "wurst" even. Loved seeing the altar piece. BTW, we stayed at the hotel you pictured at the end. Thank you for the gorgeous photos!

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Paige Taylor Evans © // Quinn Creatives DESIGN