Rothenburg has an interesting problem. Essentially the town is one big tourist trap... and yet people do live there! Quite frankly, I would get very weary with all these tourists constantly tramping around my neighborhood!
A humorous incident that occurred to me will illustrate this. In 2005, I decided to enter one of the very ornate churches that was down one of the roads from the town square. The door was open so I thought nothing of it. The church was very interesting in its layout, as it had two seating areas, or sanctuaries. The foremost where I was standing was composed of common seating and was obviously for the common people. Beyond was a more elaborate section with considerably upscale seating, certainly meant for the "betters" of the town. I saw two young men there and engaged them in some desultory conversation.
Ok.... so what happened to the satellite dishes in the town? What I offer here is only a surmise, but it's logic to the situation. Consider the following:
1. Rothenburg is to be a model of a medieval town.
2. Rothenburg is to maintain that image as part of its tourist attraction.
3. People still want to have the modern conveniences and communications.
So what happened? The town council and mayor organized cable for the entire community within the walls. This occurred either as an incentive ("you will now get cable vs. DSL") or as mandatory ("you MUST take the cable or having nothing"). As which to one of these it was I don't know, nor can accurately guess. However, I'm sure the town determined that people in a medieval tourist place should NOT have satellite dishes on their roofs! Of course, never mind the lights, cars, and other antennae on some roofs!
Right, a photo taken in 2005... when satellite dishes where quite common. At least one (right, background) tried to paint the dish to match the roof!
Then suddenly out of nowhere an older woman approached and shooed me out of the building! What I had failed to notice in my enthusiasm for the moment was that the church, though very old and ornate, was still a functioning church, and for some reason they were about to have some afternoon event. This woman was visibly angry with me, and I guess I can hardly blame her. I mean right into her church comes this stupid tourist checking the place out!
Rothenburg's central area has a number of well-kept beautiful buildings, and some pretty nondescript areas such as the one below. In the photo at left, some of the buildings still retain their early gantry at the attic for the purpose of bringing in the daily and weekly food shopping. The items were hoisted up to the top of the building where they were stored. Of course in this photo, the window area has had some remodeling, as there is no way that the gantry could be functional now.
Left, one of the side streets lined with various shops. Among other things I found a few awesome bookstores, but wasn't able to purchase and lug along any books as I was traveling very light.
Right, the main square has some really cool buildings to check out, such as the Rathaus. The tower to the right and center of the building is actually a spiral stairway as evident by the slope of the windows.
The back streets in the town are some of the most fascinating areas to check out, largely because nobody else does. Walking these narrow cobblestone passages give you a better feel for life in the town.
The wooden door close to the foundation on the left is actually an old coal bunker door. Many Germans converted their basement areas to become coal bunkers when coal became the fuel of choice for heating their homes. Carts would wind their way through the narrow streets and measure the coal into the bunker, and then payment was collected by the delivery man.
Two examples of ornate architecture in the town. Right, a sculpted portion of a church, the items just above the main entrance. The quality and detail of workmanship is incredible, far beyond what we produce in our mass production society of today.
Below, the main fountain in the town square. The fountain uses a common theme found in many German towns, that of St. George slaying a dragon. The Rathaus is the white building to the right.
