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Street · Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Baviera
Plönlein
Small triangular square where the street splits in two, with half‑timbered houses and the Siebersturm and Kobolzeller Tor towers in the background: the most photographed scene in Rothenburg.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Plönlein
The Plönlein is a small triangular square in the southern Altstadt where the Untere Schmiedgasse splits in two. To the left the street climbs to the Siebersturm tower; to the right it descends to the Kobolzeller Tor gate and the Tauber valley. Between them a yellow half‑timbered house frames the view.
The name comes from the Latin planellum, small flat area. The spot used to be a fish‑guard post, and there is still a fountain with a column from 1607 and stone basins. The houses around are largely half‑timbered buildings (enxaimel) dating from the 16th to the 18th centuries.
The point is a must‑stop for tour groups and fills up at busy times. From the Siebersturm you continue to the Spitaltor, the southernmost gate, with its eight‑shaped bastion (Spitalbastei), built in 1556.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 10–20 minutes, plus the walk to the Spitaltor.
Best time
Very early, before 9:00, or after the tour buses have left, in the late afternoon. Morning light illuminates the yellow façade.
How to get there
From the Marktplatz, go down the Obere and Untere Schmiedgasse for about five minutes.
Tip
Follow the street to the Spitaltor and climb the nearby wall to return via the covered walkway. On the other side, descending through the Kobolzeller Tor, you reach the Tauber valley.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Plönlein
Why is the Plönlein so famous?
Because of its composition: the yellow half-timbered house between two streets, one rising to the Siebersturm tower and the other descending to the Kobolzeller Tor. It is the image most associated with Rothenburg.
What's the best time to photograph without crowds?
Early in the morning or late in the afternoon, when the tour groups have already left.
What is near the Plönlein?
The Siebersturm tower, the Spitaltor with the Spitalbastei to the south, and the path to the Tauber valley via the Kobolzeller Tor.