Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Bavaria, Germany 17 Jul 2024

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 mediaeval marvel
Ride the wave
17 Jul 2025Lavender fields in Plateau de Valensole, France
17 Jul 2026Vai, Crete, Greece

More Desktop Wallpapers:

1 Sept 2026Horsehair parachute fungus, Belarus
31 May 2026Everglades National Park, Florida, United States
A different kind of toucan
23 Jun 2025Elbe river in Dresden, Saxony, Germany
One on land, a million in space
Surrounded by a sea of sand
A delightfully ornate Easter display
If these walls could talk...
13 Oct 2025Starling murmuration over the ruins of Brightons West Pier, England
3 Oct 2025Glen Brittle, Isle of Skye, Scotland
10 Sept 2026Aerial view of Olvera, Andalusia, Spain
Cool bloomers
27 Dec 2025Lake Superior, Grand Marais, Minnesota, United States
A prickly customer
8 Aug 2026International Infinity Day
21 Jul 2025The summer opening of Buckingham Palace
19 Jul 2025National Moth Week
16 Aug 2025The Isle of Wight Garlic Festival
28 Jul 2026World Nature Conservation Day
A flashy, frigid waterfowl
The mountains are calling
27 Mar 2024World Theatre Day
11 Mar 2025Broken Beach in Nusa Penida, Bali, Indonesia
The mystery of Stonehenge
27 Jan 2025Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, United States
Snow glow
28 Jun 2025Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes in Death Valley National Park, United States
Spring is coming
21 Jun 2024World Giraffe Day
28 Jul 2024Colourful bathing huts on the beach in Skåne County, Sweden