Mittelalterliches Kriminalmuseum Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Medieval crime museum in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany
The Medieval Crime Museum in Rothenburg ob der Tauber documents the history of criminal justice and legal systems from the Middle Ages to today using original objects and documents. The collection includes torture devices, execution instruments, and legal records that show how courts and punishment actually worked.
The museum was founded in 1977 and brings together objects from court cases, executions, and legal practice spanning the Middle Ages through the 1800s. The collection shows how ideas about justice and punishment changed across the centuries.
The exhibits show how criminal justice shaped life in medieval communities and what roles executioners and judges played in society. Visitors can see how people of that time understood law and punishment in ways that still influence thinking today.
The museum sits in the old town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber and is easily reached on foot from the central areas. Visitors should allow time to read through all the rooms carefully, as there is much text to take in, and signs and explanations help guide you through.
A highlight of the collection is original court records from animal trials, where pigs, rats, and even insects were brought before judges. These unusual cases reveal how differently legal systems operated and how animals had a place in medieval ideas about law.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
