Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Bavaria, Germany Jul. 17, 2024

Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Bavaria, Germany

The word you"re looking for is "fairy tale." Welcome to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, or "Red Fortress above the Tauber River," where medieval charm is around every cobbled corner. With origins as a self-ruling city, in the Middle Ages, this walled Bavarian town once flourished with 6,000 inhabitants, making it the Holy Roman Empire"s second-largest city at the time. The growth of Rothenburg ob der Tauber slowed in the 17th century, preserving its original character. Pictured here is Burgtor or the castle gate, which was built after the original Rothenburg Castle was destroyed by an earthquake in 1356.

© kanuman/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

A time-worn medieval marvel
Ride the wave
Jul. 17, 2025Lavender fields in Plateau de Valensole, France

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Mar. 8, 2025International Womens Day
Apr. 17, 2025Andean cocks-of-the-rock, Ecuador
Jul. 22, 2025Badlands National Park, South Dakota, United States
Racing through the five boroughs
Dec. 21, 2025Winter solstice
Feb. 12, 2026Darwin Day
Aug. 10, 2025World Lion Day
Apr. 13, 2025Songkran—Thai New Year
Turtle-y nice day for a swim
Mar. 15, 2024Abbotsford, British Columbia
This lesson is going swimmingly
Nov. 20, 2023World Childrens Day
Santa slalom
Apr. 11, 2025Tulips, Netherlands
Feb. 22, 2026Mam Tor, Derbyshire, England
Jan. 30, 2024Aýna, Albacete, Spain
Oct. 24, 2024Bodie State Historic Park, California, United States
Jan. 10, 2024Mylopotamos, Thessaly, Greece
Mar. 24, 2024Silvereyes
Jun. 14, 2025Cinque Torri, Dolomites, Italy
Jul. 18, 2024Coral Reef Awareness Week
A butterfly’s best friend
Hangin around
Dec. 27, 2023Kirkjufell, Iceland
Sep. 27, 2023Via Krupp, Capri, Italy
Nov. 11, 2024Banff National Park, Alberta
Jul. 9, 2024Talampaya National Park, Argentina
Pretty in pink
We’ve identified these ‘flying objects’
God’s Own Country