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Rothenburg's festivals and folklore
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If you can stand the crowds and a certain sense of tweeness, it's worth trying to make your visit coincide with one of Rothenburg's many
festivals
. Each Whit Monday, the
Meistertrunk drama
is re-enacted - albeit with no more than a pretence at matching Nusch's feat. The preceding day sees one of the renditions of the historic
SchA¤fertanz
(Shepherds' Dance) in front of the Rathaus; this is repeated on selected Sundays in spring and summer. According to one tradition, the dance began as a thanksgiving for Rothenburg's deliverance from the plague; another theory asserts that it derives from the celebration of a discovery of hidden treasure by one of the shepherds. Also at Whitsun, and throughout July and August, there are costume performances of
plays by Hans Sachs
. The second weekend in September sees the
Freiereichstadtfest
, featuring pageants, historical tableaux and a fireworks display, as well as performances of the Meistertrunk and the
SchA¤fertanz
. Rothenburg, like neighbouring DinkelsbA?hl and NAśrdlingen, is among the last towns in Europe still employing a
nightwatchman
. From April to October, he leads tours round the town, starting from the Rathaus; the 8pm tour is in English, the one at 9.30pm in German. Other useful information
for tourists (each section contains more specific sub-sections): |
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Germany,
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