Drink to Save the Nation: Rothenburg's "The Master Draught" Festival Revives Medieval History

By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network, Reported and Compiled by Li Xinyi

 

Situated in Bavaria, Germany, Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a small tourist town that still retains the charm of a medieval ancient city. In 1631, during Europe’s “Thirty Years' War,” Rothenburg was occupied by an imperial army led by Count Tilly. When the entire town was in despair, Count Tilly suddenly proposed that if anyone could drink a 3.25-liter goblet of wine in one go, Rothenburg would be spared from destruction.

At that time, the elderly mayor Nusch accepted the challenge to save Rothenburg and drank the entire 3.25 liters of wine in one gulp, leaving the enemy commander stunned and saving the town. To commemorate this historic event, Rothenburg has been holding a festival every year since 1881 to recreate that pivotal moment — “The Master Draught” (Der Meistertrunk).

This year’s “The Master Draught” will take place from May 25 to 28 at Rothenburg’s Town Hall. From Friday to Monday, there will be different activities each day, with the highlight being the one-and-a-half-hour performance of “The Master Draught.” It is scheduled for 20:00 on Friday, 15:00 and 17:00 on Saturday, and 10:00 and 12:30 on Sunday, with an additional show at 12:30 on Monday. If you miss the main event, there’s a unique clock on the wall of the Town Hall square that opens its two side doors at scheduled times each day to enact the story of “The Master Draught.” The Imperial City Museum also displays the large goblet used during the event, which was made in 1616.

Visitors can climb to the top of the Town Hall’s tallest tower, where they can enjoy a panoramic view of the entire town of Rothenburg. However, the top of the tower is very narrow, and visitors must wait for those above to come down before they can enter. For details about the festival events, visit the official website: en.meistertrunk.de.

 

● Read more: WWII Anniversary Special / Germany WWII & Nazi Relics Tour

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