Plonlein Rothenburg: How to Actually Find the Famous Photo Spot

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ByAngie Kunze Updated on

Tucked within the medieval walls of the German village of Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a scene so enchanting, surely it must have leapt straight out the pages of a storybook!

Rothenburg is a virtual time capsule of medieval architecture, cobbled streets, flower boxes, and half-timbered houses. It’s like taking a trip back to the Middle Ages! Right in the middle of this historic town is Plonlein Rothenburg.

If this is your first time in the medieval town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, you’re probably wondering where you can find the famous Plonlein, the most photographed corner in this charming village.

I’ve been to Rothenburg many times over the past 45 years, but I always seem to make my way back to this area of the old town to take in the idyllic view and of course to take more photos! Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about visiting Plönlein!

Rothenburg ob der Tauber, the best medieval towns in Germany
This is the very fist photo I ever took of the Plönlein, the main attraction in Rothenburg!!

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What Is Plönlein?

The term Plönlein translates to “little square by the fountain,” and if you want to get technical, it refers to the crooked higgidy-piggidy little yellow half-timbered house, the fountain in front, and the two medieval towers of the old city wall that flank them.

To the left of the postcard perfect scene, the Siebers Tower leads into the old hospital district (spital quarter), while to the right, the Kobolzeller tor (Gate) opens the way to the Tauber Valley.

The historic little house was built in the 14th century and to this day, people just can’t seem to get enough of it!

Plonlein Rothenburg. The image depicts a medieval town in Germany in modern times. There is a little yellow half-timbered house with a medieval tower next to it. The streets are filled with tourists.
Plönlein, Rothenburg, notice there are always people milling around this area during the day

What’s so special about this half-timbered building anyway?

Rothenburg is said to have been the inspiration for the classic 1940 Walt Disney animated film Pinocchio. The little mustard yellow timber-frame house epitomizes the adorable storybook village from the movie and is often referred to as the Pinocchio House.

Some think it was the model for Geppetto’s House in the film. I had to see for myself. Here is a screen shot of his house from Disney’s 1940’s Pinocchio.

photo of Geppeto's House from the 1940 Disney Movie Pinocchio. The image depicts cartoon image of a small squat house with a blue door.
Gepetto’s House, 1940 Disney’s Pinocchio

As you can see, it doesn’t really resemble Plönlein. However there are other buildings in the movie that sort of do.

Here’s an article about where to find Pinocchio in Rothenburg!

How to find Plonlein Rothenburg

You’ll find Plonlein Rothenburg in the old town quarter. (Need directions to the old town? Where to park? You’ll find the “Arriving in Rothenburg” section later in this article.)

Make your way to the intersection where Spitalgasse and Schmiedgasse and Kobolzeller Steige meet.

address: u. Schmiedgasse, 91541 Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany

GPS: or put these coordinates into your GPS and use the walking directions from your current location: 49.37447368690662, 10.180114594257626

Map to Plonlein Rothenburg (Plönlein) in Rothenburg Germany. the image displays a map with arrows pointing to the market square, Plönlein, and the nearest parking to Plonlein.
map showing the location of Plönlein Rothenburg, and the direction of market square (location of the town hall) and the nearest parking

When is the best time to visit Plönlein?

Time of Day

I like to visit my favorite little German village whenever possible and of course you’ll want to get pictures of Plönlein but I will tell you, it is sadly going to be hard to get those photos without people in them!

Plonlein Rothenburg alternate view, this is a view of the famous building close up and from the side. The image depicts a dark yellow half-timbered building with window boxes full of flowers and teal shutters. The building is situated on a narrow corner.
Plönlein alternate view! If you can’t escape the crowds consider getting closer and snap a quick photo!

Your best bet for getting those photos sans crowds is to show up REALLY EARLY in the morning before the crowds arrive like at the crack of dawn, or late at night for nighttime photos.

My recommendation, do both! Another benefit of arriving early is that you’ll be able to take advantage of the soft morning golden hour lighting.

Night time is one of my favorite times to visit Rothenburg!

Nighttime view of Plonlein in Rothenburg. the image depicts the dark streets of a medieval town in modern times. Buildings are lit with a warm glow. In the background is a skinny half-timbered house with a medieval tower behind it.
Plönlein at night!

time of Year

In spring, summer, and fall window boxes are full of colorful blooms that add a lovely touch to your Plönlein photos and visiting in winter may present a whole new experience. If you’re lucky, the rooftops and cobblestones will be dusted with snow and the scene may include a Christmas tree or two!

Flower boxes on the Plönlein half-timbered building in Rothenburg Germany, The image depicts a dark yellow half-timbered house with flower boxes that have red flowers in bloom.
Plönlein with it’s flower boxes in bloom
Plonlein / plönlein in Rothenburg ob der tauber at Christmas time
Rothenburg is magical at Christmas time!

Christmas Day?

If you really want to avoid crowds in Rothenburg, you may consider a Christmas Day visit. Most everything will be closed, including the Christmas market, but if you would like the opportunity to enjoy Rothenburg’s well-preserved architecture without all the people, now is your chance! I have an article that covers all of the best ways to spend Christmas Day in Rothenburg.

Arriving in Rothenburg

Public Transportation

Arrival by Train

Seamlessly plan your bus and train transportation with either Deutsche Bahn DB or Rome2Rio.

By using the DB app/website you can: purchase European train tickets for DB trains, book advance tickets, search for the cheapest train ticket prices

The tiny train station is located within walking distance of the old town City Center (approximately 1 kilometer or .7 miles.) If you have heavy luggage a taxi will take you to your hotel.

Train Station Location: Bahnhofstr. 12, Rothenburg O.D.

Arrival by Bus

Rothenburg is serviced by frequent bus service. All buses stop outside of the city walls.

Bus Tours

Many visitors arrive in Rothenburg on a tourist bus. Bus tours to Rothenburg like these can be booked through places like Get Your Guide.

(why I like to book with Get Your Guide: Most activities are reserve now, pay later, and offer free cancelation!)

Arrival by Car

Yes, you can drive into the center of Rothenburg but unless you are headed to your hotel to check in, I don’t recommend it. Streets are very narrow, and people are often walking in the middle of the road without a care in the world and with no earthly idea they are holding up traffic!

It’s as if they think they are in an amusement park! Sorry, I get so frustrated! It’s better if you just park at one of the many parking lots outside of the city walls.

Parking in Rothenburg

There is ample parking at any of the parking lots that surround the old town. Get more information about parking on Rothenburg Tourisum’s parking page.

This map shows the various parking lots and the best places to park. Parking lots are noted in blue…. P1, P2, P3, P4, P5. You can pick up this map at the Tourist Information (Rothenburg Tourismus Service) or other various places around town.

Rothenburg Parking map shows the location of several parking lots in Rothenburg old town and the location of Plonlein Rothenburg.
Parking in Rothenburg in relation to Plönlein

Making your way to the old town center

There are several gates at which you can enter the part of the old town that is encircled by the medieval wall.

Nearby Attractions

While Plönlein is undeniably photogenic, it’s also a perfect launchpad for exploring Rothenburg’s treasures. These are the best attractions near Plönlein:

  • Medieval Crime Museum, explore this fascinating world class museum that delves into medieval crime, justice, and torture.
  • Castle Garden, the Rothenburg castle is long gone. In it’s place, a lovely garden!
  • The Christmas Museum, you’ll find it in the Käthe Wohlfahrt where you can shop the world’s largest collection of Christmas ornaments!
  • The Night Watchman Tour, it’s the town’s most popular tour, and highly recommended! Explore the floodlit streets of Rothenburg and hear stories of medieval times and find out how the town escaped bomb attacks in World War II!
  • St. Jacob’s Church, admire the Tilman Riemenschneider Holy Blood Altar, said to contain a sample of the blood of Christ.
  • More museums: The Imperial City of Rothenburg has a rich history which is reflected in several good museums in town! I’ve covered them all in this Rothenburg museum guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you go inside Plönlein?

The Plönlein building is currently privately owned so you won’t be able to visit the inside. However, you’ll be able to photograph it from the outside, just remember to be respectful because this is someone’s home.

Where can I find a painting or etching of Plönlein?

You may be interested in taking home some art! My favorite place in Rothenburg to shop for paintings and etching of Rothenburg’s famous landmarks is the Kunsthandlung Endlein art gallery just down the street from Plönlein.

Conclusion

I hope I’ve been able to answer all of your questions about this picturesque spot in the little German village that I’m just a little bit obsessed with!

Want to hear more about my travels around Germany? You may be interested in my Germany page! and don’t forget to check out my “Travel Resources” page for more great resources for booking your trip from hotels to tours to travel insurance (yes you need it!)

Are you ready to plan your trip to Rothenburg? You’ll want to check out the following articles:

Headed to Rothenburg? don’t miss these articles!

Angie is the founder of and content creator at The Travel Bug Life. She spent a good chunk of her childhood living in Europe and it just keeps calling her home! Angie has been intermittently traveling from the US to Europe for the last 45 years. About 7 years ago she really got into Europe trip planning and in 2020 started a travel blog to help others experience epic Europe travel.