Mittelalterliches Kriminalmuseum Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Medieval crime museum in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany
The Mittelalterliches Kriminalmuseum, also known as the Medieval Crime Museum, is a museum in the old town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, focused on the history of criminal law and legal practice in German-speaking Europe. It occupies several floors of an old building and displays original objects such as court records, punishment devices, and execution tools, all accompanied by explanatory texts.
The museum opened in 1977 and brought together objects that had been scattered across different court archives and private collections in the region. Over the years the collection grew and now covers legal practice from the medieval period through the 19th century.
The name of the museum reflects its focus on criminal law as it was practiced in German-speaking lands during the medieval period, with objects that show real cases and real punishments. Walking through the rooms, you get a sense of how justice was carried out in public and what it meant for everyday people living under those rules.
The museum is in the heart of the old town and easy to reach on foot from most parts of Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Plan for at least a couple of hours, since each room has a lot of text to read and many objects to look at closely.
Among the objects on display are original court records from animal trials, where pigs, rats, and even insects were formally judged in court. These cases were taken seriously at the time and followed the same procedures as trials involving people.
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