Notable mainly because it was rendered a backwater before the place could fall into the hands of ‘Developers’ who would have levelled pretty much everything in sight – and what remains is a remarkably well preserved medieval-renaissance-30 Years War melange …
Actually this is, again, out of chronological order – I visited it between Wurzburg and Nuremberg.
One of the remaining major city gate complexes (the south one, I think). A bastion built in front of the older (original) medieval gate (marked by the tower you can just see poking above the left side of the bastion gateway).The Bell-tower Gate – originally it divided the older town from the (relatively) newer one – and would have fallen foul of those (fortunately nonexistent) developers … you can see the narrow s(and steep) streets. This is from the ‘old town’ side of the tower and you can see one of the original public water-fountains in front of the half-timbered house on the right.This is the opposite direction from the above – looking toward the main square of the town. Sure, the street is lined with touristy shops and the like, as well as some private homes, but it’s pretty much what it would have been like back in the day … That’s the town from the castle grounds which is off to one side (the west, I think) … you can see the town walls and the clock tower gate. The Castle grounds are just that, the grounds where the castle used to be. It was destroyed by an earthquake in the 14th century and all that remains is one tower … and the grounds, which the Town has turned into a lovely park with plenty of shade trees and a great overlook on the town commons below.That’s the Tauber river valley (the trees mark the course) from the outlook over it from the Castle Park (evidently a favourite hangout for local teenagers making out) and the Town common lands below … still commons (well, owned by the Town now).
The town has a fairly good museum for such a relatively small place … with, amongst other things, an excellent collection of arms and armour. Some of which were even photographable! Sadly, of course, most were behind glass and badly lit so they were all reflection … what else is new?
Renaissance and Late Medieval Polearms plus a nice Mail Hauberk … not sure of the provenance of that. It could be late Medieval (i.e. late 13th or early 14th century) or intended to be ‘High Medieval’ (i.e. 15th century) and intended to be worn under Partial Plate, though probably not Full plate, so probably not later than the end of the 15th century (or so).A nice example of one of the many possible varieties of the medieval Falchion.Some more medieval Swords … including three rather more high quality versions of the basic Falchion in front.
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