Walk through one of Europe's best-preserved medieval walled towns, where centuries of poverty accidentally created a fairy-tale time capsule. This self-guided tour of Rothenburg ob der Tauber covers 18 stops across 900 years of history — from a king's hilltop castle to a drinking legend that saved a town, a woodcarver who rivalled Michelangelo, and the American phone call that stopped Allied artillery in 1945. Perfect for first-time visitors with 2-3 hours to explore.