One of Rothenburg ob der Tauber’s most unusual attractions, the Medieval Crime Museum is often featured on walking tours that showcase the town’s highlights in a day. These tours typically visit the marvelously medieval Market Square; the Town Hall, hailed as one of the most beautiful in south Germany; and the photogenic Plönlein Square. If you’re not staying in the city, explore Rothenburg with ease on a day trip from Frankfurt, which often also visit Nuremberg.
As the museum is in a listed building that’s over 700 years old, you can only reach individual floors by taking the stairs.
There’s an on-site museum shop on the group floor, which sells a range of medieval-themed souvenirs and books.
The majority of exhibitions have Chinese, English, and German descriptions.
There are bathroom facilities at the museum as well as a café that offers drinks and snacks.
The Medieval Crime Museum is easy to find, as it’s located in the south-west corner of the historic center, close to the Market Square. If traveling by train, it takes around 15 minutes to walk to the museum from the station. Unfortunately, there isn’t a carpark at the museum and the nearest one is P1 Friedrich-Hörner-Weg.
The museum is open year-round, but hours vary depending on the season, so it’s best to check the opening schedule in advance. The museum is typically open longer between April–October (usually mid-morning until early evening), and from early to mid-afternoon between November–March. For fewer crowds, come early, and avoid the summer months and weekends if you can.
With around 50,000 artifacts to explore, it can be hard to narrow down the museum's must-see sights. Some of the most popular items include torture instruments such as the Iron Maiden—a coffin-like torture device from the Middle Ages. Other highlights include executioner's swords, reconstructed stocks, and exhibits that tell stories of witch trials.
