Drosselgasse, Pedestrian street in Rüdesheim am Rhein, Germany
Drosselgasse is a narrow lane in Rüdesheim am Rhein that runs 144 meters (472 feet) between half-timbered houses. Wine taverns, inns, and small shops line both sides, while the cobblestone pavement slopes gently down from the town center toward the Rhine waterfront.
In the 15th century, boatmen used the lane as a connection between their homes and the docks on the Rhine. During reconstruction after World War II, the old artisan street turned into a leisure district for tourists.
The name comes from the Middle High German word for gutter or water channel, as rainwater once flowed toward the river here. Today, visitors hear accordion music and singing coming from the open doors of the taverns as they pass between the buildings.
With its width of only two meters (6.5 feet), the passage becomes crowded quickly when visitor numbers are high. During the day the lane is often packed, while late afternoon offers a bit more room to wander.
Along the entire length there is not a single residential house, only dining establishments and souvenir shops in every building. This unbroken commercial use has been maintained for decades without interruption.
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