Discover Rottweil: Old Town, Roman History and Cycle Routes
Accommodation in Rottweil
Rottweil combines a town centre shaped by the Middle Ages with traces of Roman history and a lively weekly market. Picturesque lanes, magnificent townhouses and Gothic buildings give walks their character. The city also has places with very different stories: the Roman Baths as a ruin, the Chapel Church as a late Gothic landmark and the Holy Cross Cathedral in the centre. This gives you a clear question to consider when planning your trip: would you like to spend your days mainly exploring the city’s history and architecture, or would regional produce and cycle tours also be part of your stay?
Discover the Old Town and its architecture
Rottweil is considered the oldest city in Baden-Württemberg and invites you to stroll through its medieval town centre. Its lanes, townhouses and Gothic buildings are more than just a backdrop: they tell the story of the city’s historic character. If you enjoy wandering through a city and noticing details on façades and buildings along the way, you can shape your walk around this streetscape. It also makes for a shared discovery: each family member can look out for different architectural forms or details, without the need for a set sightseeing programme.
The Chapel Church and Holy Cross Cathedral are among the city’s most distinctive churches. The Chapel Church is an important late Gothic building, an outstanding landmark of Rottweil and of national importance. At the centre of the city stands Holy Cross Cathedral, a Romanesque-Gothic church with colourful choir windows. If you are interested in sacred architecture, these two sites offer different ways to explore Rottweil’s architectural history. Searching for a holiday apartment in Rottweil is particularly suitable if you want to make the city itself the main focus of your stay.
Roman history at the museum and among the ruins
The Dominikanermuseum Rottweil focuses on the Romans and medieval sculpture. It opened in 1992 as a branch museum of the Württemberg State Museum, with an exhibition area of around 1,400 square metres. These two themes offer different ways to explore the past: if you are interested in the Romans, you can add a visit to the Roman Baths to your museum trip; if you find medieval art fascinating, the museum introduces another aspect of the city’s history. The figure of around 1,400 square metres refers to the museum’s exhibition area and indicates its size.
Only the foundations of the former legionary bath remain at the Roman Baths. Today, the historic site can be visited only as a ruin. The contrast between a museum and the visible remains of an earlier building makes Roman history accessible in two ways: through the museum’s focus areas and through the surviving foundations at the Roman Baths. If you plan your stay around cultural interests, you can consider which of these approaches will be especially appealing to your travel group.
Weekly market and cycling trips
The weekly market on Obere Hauptstraße offers fresh regional produce. Visitors can talk to the producers, ask for advice and pick up recipe tips. As well as shopping, the market is a chance to get to know local products and gather inspiration for your own kitchen. For families who enjoy talking together about food and trying new dishes on holiday, this personal exchange can be a welcome part of a visit to the city.
Cyclists can also place Rottweil within a wider landscape: the well-developed cycle route network of the Black Forest and the Swabian Jura connects the city to these natural and cultural landscapes, which can be explored from the saddle. If you enjoy dividing your days between the city and cycling, you can include Rottweil and these two regions in your holiday plans. A holiday apartment in the city and a stay focused more on cycling appeal to different travel preferences; the right choice depends on which experiences you would like to prioritise.
On weekdays, a bus route runs from the railway station through Rottweil city centre to the Test Tower. If you plan to take the bus, you can bear this connection in mind when arranging a weekday visit.
Discover more places
If you would like to extend your travel plans beyond Rottweil, here are some more places: Schiltach, Dunningen, Villingendorf, Aichhalden, Epfendorf, Oberndorf Am Neckar, Wellendingen and Dornhan.
For the overarching travel overview: Rottweil.
