Wrong Turns and Right Discoveries - My Unexpected Rottweil Adventure, Germany

Hello friends. One Monday morning I took a train to Rottweil. I’d always wanted to see this city. It is located in the state of Baden-Württemberg and has a very old history. About 25 thousand people live there. It is also one of the oldest settlements in Baden-Württemberg. You can see traces from the Roman period. It stands out with both its nature and architecture. My train was actually going all the way to Zurich but I got off at Rottweil because it seemed like an interesting place to live or visit. Since this part of the train route was a regional line, I could travel comfortably with my subscription. The name of the city might sound familiar to you because the world-famous Rottweiler dog breed is named after it. These dogs were used by butchers in the Middle ages to protect their herds. There is even a statue in Rottweil dedicated to the breed.

My trip started out in a rather unusual way. I walked for about 10 to 15 minutes. At first there was only a road. Then I started seeing small houses, but I still hadn’t reached the city center. The train station was clearly built quite far from the center. You can also take a bus from there to the center.

I continued walking while observing the houses. In this type of house, usually three families live together. A two-story house might accommodate four or five people or two families. The houses are divided into separate flats. For example, you might own the house but not use the upper floor and rent it out to others. That’s very normal here and actually very common. Nobody finds it strange. In southern Germany apartment buildings aren’t so widespread. If there are any, they are mostly newly built and therefore more expensive.

It took about 30 minutes to walk to the center, which shows that the city is fairly large. After a while I saw the river. There are small streams like Prim or Eschach near the city. The Neckar river passes through Stuttgart but is a bit farther from Rottweil. I even had a funny moment. When I looked at the map again, I realized I wasn’t actually that far from the center. But I had gone in the wrong direction. I had been talking to a friend on the phone and got distracted. I just kept walking. At some point it felt like the river was waving at me, saying something like, You’re going the wrong way. Still getting lost was worth it. The surroundings were beautiful.

Soon I arrived at the Roman baths. Today only the ruins remain of course. The roads also started to slope a bit because the Black Forest is located nearby. It had just rained and the scent of nature was in the air.

The city has a very ancient history. Sometimes while walking among these ancient ruins I wonder what these stones must have witnessed. Rottweil is not only the oldest city in Baden-Württemberg but also one of the most strategic Roman settlements north of the Alps. It was founded during the Roman period, around ad 83. Although it lost its importance after the legions were withdrawn to Vindonissa, it continued as a stop on the Augsburg-Zurich trade route. That means it’s about 2000 years old. In Roman times it was known as Arae Flaviae. The influence of the Black Forest can be felt in the hills and wooded areas around the city.

From what I saw, some ruins and columns from Roman times are still standing. The baths were built around ad 75 to 80. The area around them has been arranged like a small park. There is an old church and cemetery nearby. Roman legions once stationed here. On the map you can see signs of other buildings too but houses have been built over them in modern times. Excavations would be needed to uncover more.

As I got closer to the center the houses became even more beautiful. The balconies stood out. There are small hills next to the Roman baths. If a proper route is planned, it could feel like a mountain hike. Gradually I entered the city center. On the left side I saw a restored historic tower, one of the symbols of Rottweil. The city also features a 246-meter high elevator test tower built by the company ThyssenKrupp. It is the tallest elevator test tower in Germany.

The city was very quiet. Since it was Monday, there weren’t many people around. You could smell food coming from the cafes. For those interested in history, there are many places to explore besides the Black Gates, also known as Schwarzes Tor.

Various events are held in the city. One of them is the Rottweiler Fastnacht festival where people walk around wearing masks. From the pictures I’ve seen, there is even a jazz festival in May. The place where I was standing is about 600 meters above sea level. This altitude usually provides cleaner air. Whether changes in air pressure cause headaches depends on the person. Despite the elevation, rain clouds can sweep across the city and soak everything.

Car license plates in the city have the letters RW, which shows that Rottweil is a sizable city with its own plate code. Otherwise smaller towns use the plate code of a larger administrative district.

Some historical structures are being restored. One of the restored landmarks is the Black gates, Schwarzes Tor. This monumental structure from the Middle ages might have gotten its name from its dark stones or perhaps from a mysterious story in the past. There is no definite proof that it suffered a fire but its gothic architecture and heavy ironwork give it a rather gloomy appearance.

Right next to the gate is a bronze statue of the Rottweiler dog. This statue was erected in memory of the brave guardians who made the city’s name famous around the world. These dogs, which once protected the herds of butchers in the Middle ages, are still considered a source of pride in Rottweil today.

Overall I really liked the city. There are nice cafes, quiet streets, and lovely houses. One can really imagine living here. Recently I looked into house prices in Spain and it seemed appealing at first but the salaries are low. Working in the same position in Germany is more advantageous. In Spain, after paying off a mortgage you might end up with a house worth 150 thousand euros, while in Germany the same house could be worth 300 to 400 thousand euros. So in terms of liquidity, Germany is more reasonable. Spain is attractive but Germany is more profitable.

I kept walking. The famous Hirsch beer of Rottweil can be found here straight from the barrel. We’ve been drinking this beer for a long time but only recently learned that it had won awards. It really is a great beer. The symbol of the deer is also featured in the city’s coat of arms. There is also a piece of the Berlin Wall in the city, placed here as a type of installation.

It slowly started to rain. It wasn’t very heavy yet so I kept walking. There are many beautiful streets in the city. The red-colored buildings and half-timbered houses are especially nice. Some balconies are quite unusual. I had never seen some of these styles before. One of them was still decorated with a Christmas star. It was nice to see that some people don’t let go of the holiday spirit even in July.

At exactly 2 pm, the bells rang twice. Here, bells ring in different tones for the quarter hours and the full hours so you don’t miss the time. While walking through another street I found a place that sold Hirsch beer from the barrel. It was amazing. The piece of the Berlin Wall was also nearby. Walking and discovering places like this is really enjoyable.

I postponed eating for later. I found a Norma supermarket and thought it would be a good idea to stop by for some snacks. Then I continued exploring the city. The return train ride only took an hour and twenty minutes so I had plenty of time to wander around...

And so my trip came to an end. See you soon, friends.