Wurzburg to Rothenburg and Weikersheim: Private day trip

Seeing Rothenburg ob der Tauber's forty-two gates and towers etched against the unspoiled countryside from a distance, you'd swear you were looking at the Fifteenth Century through field glasses. Inside, the town's almost completely intact walls and carefully-preserved half-timbered houses truly do bring visitors back in time. But the past isn't all pretty buildings. Stop by the Medieval Crime Museum to see the horrific reality of medieval correctional methods lovingly detailed in the vaults. A whole department is dedicated to witchcraft and witch-hunting in Bavaria. Back in the light of day, the Town Hall Tower beckons with its fine views of the town and the idyllic surrounding countryside. A walk around those intact town walls is also a temptation to fully surrender to.

Built in the 12th century by the counts of Hohenlohe, Weikersheim received a Renaissance make-over in the 16th century, transforming it into a noble palace. The estate remained in the family until the 20th century, giving them plenty of time to fill it with beautiful furnishings. On the guided tour through the palace’s opulent rooms, visitors will find vibrant paintings on the walls and ceilings, ornate stucco, and glittering gilding. In the former kitchens, a permanent exhibition is dedicated to Count Wolfgang II’s alchemy laboratory. In the surrounding gardens, marked by a Baroque orangery, visitors will find elaborate sculptures, and whimsical follies, depicting the four seasons, the four elements, and the four winds. Around the Hercules fountain, classical gods and a 'court' of dwarfs.