
MM Editor•Apr 19, 2026
Medieval Crime Museum — Rothenburg's Chilling Archive of Torture and Justice
At a Glance
The Medieval Crime and Justice Museum in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Bavaria opened in 1976 and holds Europe's largest collection of medieval law and punishment artifacts — about 50,000 pieces including 300 torture implements and original law codes.
Not a Chamber of Horrors but a Legal History Museum
Rather than sensationalise, it asks how law turned cruel. Witch trials, inquisitions and public humiliations are framed within religious, political and communal contexts.
Highlights
- 40 Schandmaske "masks of shame".
- Witch trial records including Rothenburg's own cases.
- 300 torture devices with historical commentary.
- Original guillotine pieces and execution tools.
- Original medieval legal codices — Sachsenspiegel, Carolina.
Visiting Tips
Train 2h30 from Munich. €8.50. 1.5–2 hours. Open daily. Pair with a walk on Rothenburg's medieval walls.