Freiburg
Freiburg
Freiburg has a lot to offer-no matter whether you are interested in a stroll in the historic old town to learn about the culture and history of the city, whether you would like to spend some time in one of the many cafes and cosy pubs, or whether you would like to indulge in Badisch cuisine and hospitality.
Freiburg Minster
Every visitor who comes to Freiburg always heads straight to the cathedral as soon as he catches a glimpse of the open-worked pyramids of the slender tower over the rooftops of the old town. Then he will stand, astonished, in front of the most beautiful tower Christianity, just as the famous historian and author from Baden, Carl Jakob Burckhardt had referred to the tower. Whilst many churches from the middle ages were completed only in following centuries, the tower, which is 116 meters high, was already completed by 1330.
Old town hall
It was assembled from 1557 - 1559 from many old houses. The façade was originally completely painted. Since 2007 tourist information centre can be found in this building.
New town hall
The new town hall was only created from 1896 to 1901 due to modification of a semi-detached house from the Renaissance. For many years, it served as Kollegiengebäude (university building) and administration building of the university founded in 1457; later it was then an anatomy and polyclinic. A glockenspiel tower bells chimes daily at 12 o'clock from the turrets of the new mid section.
Historical store
Between 1520 and 1532, Lienhart Müller constructed the department store located on Münsterplatz for the municipal market management. The emblems and the statues on the main façade created by Hans Sixt von Staufen depict a reverence to the house of Habsburg.
Schwabentor (Swabian gate)
Due to the oldest crossing of the river Dreisam and the Oberlinden road junction, the Obertor or the Schwabentor gates were of particular importance which was also demonstrated with the weir system.
Martinstor (Martin Gate)
The Martinstor is the oldest of both of the surviving gate towers from Freiburg's first fortification, which were built at the beginning of the 13th century.
Breisacher Tor (Breisacher gate)
The building situated on the corner of Rempartstraße and Gartenstraße is the only surviving gate construction of the entire fortification which was built in Baroque style under French occupation in 1677.
The Freiburg Bächle (Small canals)
The Freiburg Bächle are an integral part of the historical old town. Originally they were most likely used for the provision of water for industrial use and as sewers. Today the canals cater for a pleasant climate and are a popular play area for adults and children alike. But watch out. It is said that visitors who come to Freiburg and who step into one of the canals have not visited Freiburg for the last time. Haus zum Walfisch [House of the Whale]The Haus zum Walfisch, with its magnificent, late Gothic doorway, is located in the Franziskanergasse where you can find several beautiful historical buildings. The famous scholar Erasmus von Rotterdam lived in this house for two years.