Sights

"Bächle"

Freiburg's "Bächle", little streams running through gullies beneath the streets, are one of the historic old town's trademarks. They are thought to have been originally designed to supply the city with water, and for sewage. Today, the streams create a pleasant atmosphere and in the summer they entice people of all ages to have fun by walking in the water. But beware - the legend goes that those who accidentally step into one of the little streams will end up marrying somebody from Freiburg!

Augustinermuseum

In the middle of Freiburg's Old Town you will find the largest museum of South Baden, the "Augustiner-museum". The former cloistral building of the "Augustiner-Eremiten" with its Gothic cloister and its high church room creates an impressive atmosphere. With its valuable collection of art and culture of the Upper Rhine area, reaching from the mediaeval times to the 20th century, the Augustinermuseum is of national importance. Due to some constructional work, part of the museum is closed at the moment, but most of the collections are nevertheless accessible.

Colombi Palace (Museum of Early and Pre-History)

Georg Jakob Schneider built the "Colombischlößle" (Colombi Mansion) for the Countess Zea Bermudez y Colombi and her daughters between 1859 and 1861. The house is situated on the former "Saint Louis" bastion, which was torn down in 1744/45. The new "Villa Colombi" was designed in the English Gothic and Tudor styles. The Colombi Mansion became the permanent property of Freiburg in 1899. Since then, it has served as the home of various institutions. From 1947-1952, Land President Leo Wohleb ran the Office of the State of Baden from the mansion. In 1983, the Colombi Mansion became the site for the Museum für Ur- und Frühgeschichte (Museum for Pre- and Early history). The small vineyard which looks out onto the Eisenbahnstraße is the remainder of the "Glacis-Reben" (type of grapevine) planted in 1745 on the ruins of the Baroque fortifications.

Historisches Kaufhaus (Historic Merchants' Hall)

The "Historisches Kaufhaus" (Historical Merchant Hall) was built in the 16th century. It served as the administrative headquarters for Freiburg's market, customs, and finance offices. At this time, trade was growing rapidly in the city and the duties paid by the merchants who passed through Freiburg were an ever-increasing source of income. Additionally, the merchant house provided a place to store goods. The Historisches Kaufhaus survived both world wars almost undamaged. History has it that on the night of the city's bombing in World War II (1944), the landlord from the adjacent Weinstube saved the Kaufhaus in an unusual manner. Karl Oberkirch extinguished the flying sparks of a fire by dousing them with his wine. Today, the building is mostly used for classical music concerts and receptions.

Kaiser-Joseph-Strasse

Freiburg's main street, lined by arcades built since the war, was the central marketplace in the Middle Ages with wooden buildings known as "Lauben" down its centre. The "Große Gaß" (big alley) is joined to the south by the Martinstor.

Konviktstrasse

The "Konviktstrasse", an old street close to the "Schwabentor" gate, is an excellent example of old town restoration, successfully integrating modern and old architecture into a charming living environment. Many modern buildings also retain their old façades.

Kornhaus

The "Kornhaus" (granary) on the north-west side of the Cathedral Square was built in 1498 as a place to hold dances and to store and sell grains. In 1944, the Kornhaus was destroyed down to the ground walls. It was rebuilt in its original form (1969-71) under the direction of the architect Herbert Dörr. Today, the house is an arcade with shops, a café, restaurants and office space. The main point of interest is the attractive stair-step shaped front gable with its attic windows. Formerly, items stored in the Kornhaus were heaved out of the storage rooms through these windows.

Martinstor and Schwabentor (two gates)

The "Martinstor" (Martin's Gate) belongs to Freiburg's first city fortifications built at the beginning of the 13th century. It is older than the other remaining fortification tower gate, the "Schwabentor" (originally there were four towers). The Martinstor was joined on the land side to the city wall. The defence passage was six meters above the ground. A twelve meter wide and five meter deep bridged moat was located outside the tower.

Schlossberg (Fortification Ruins) / Lookout Tower

The Schlossberg (Castle Hill) in the middle of Freiburg served from 1677 to 1744 as a fortress for the French conquerors. Today, the hill with its wonderful views over Freiburg and Dreisamtal (valley of the River Dreisam) is a very popular destination for excursions. Special attractions are the 35 meter high, recently newly-built lookout tower and the beer garden of the Restaurant Greiffeneggschlössle.

Seepark (lake park)

The Seepark is located in the west of the city centre and comprises centrally of a lake (the "Flückiger See") surrounded by green land and small businesses. You will find a concert platform and an observation tower there as well as a large beer garden (Restaurant "Das Lago"). As there is a large footbridge crossing one corner of the lake, it only takes about twenty minutes to walk round the lake. In the summer months, it is also possible to hire a boat. Another attraction worth visiting in this area is the Ökostation Freiburg, a model ecological house with an exceptional architecture and a natural garden area with an organic and herb garden.

The Cathedral

The "Münster Unserer Lieben Frau" (Cathedral of our Beloved Lady) was modelled after the Minster in Basel. Work began around 1200 on the site of an old parish church from the 12th century. The choir, the Late Romanesque transom, the nave and the flanking towers were completed before the death of the last Zähringer duke, Bertold V (1218). In 1220, the plans were revised and construction continued in the Modern Gothic style, which at that time had reached its zenith in France. The west tower - the "most beautiful tower of Christianity"- was finished in 1330. Cathedral reached completion. It is likely that the new building of the Late Gothic chancel was designed by the cathedral master workman Johannes von Gmünd. The cornerstone was laid in 1354. The chancel was not fully finished until 1513, due to political and economic problems in the city and poor management. The Cathedral achieved its present form at the beginning of the 16th century. If you have the guts to climb the Cathedral tower, you'll be rewarded with a breathtaking view.

The Theatre

At the end of the 19th century, Freiburg's Mayor initiated the new building of the Stadttheater which finally opened in 1920. The City Theatre was built in the New Baroque style. The front entrance, composed of five curved segments, connects to the surrounding area through ramps and a stone stairway. The interior was richly decorated with ceiling murals, wrought iron grilles, bronze lamps and ornamental Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) stucco. Unfortunately, these became the victim of a renovation in 1939 and after World War II. After the city bombing in 1944, only the outside walls and the magnificent built-in wall fountains remained standing. The City Theatre was rebuilt along simplified lines in 1949. The large foyer with its loggia over the entrance hall was left out and the terraces were used to make place for the "Kurbel" cinema and local shops. Some renovations followed in 1962, 1973 and 1996. Today, the complex comprises three theatres: The "Großes Haus" is used for opera, drama and ballet performances by the resident companies and has 909 seats. The "Kleines Haus" (312 seats) was built as a cinema and is mainly used today for drama performances. Finally, the "Kammerbühne" was also originally built as a cinema and has 99 seats.

The University

Not only is the Albert-Ludwig University physically located in the heart of the city of Freiburg - its students, professors and staff are also an integral part of daily life in the ?Capital of the Black Forest'. Upon its foundation in 1457, the University already offered courses of study at the Faculties of Theology, Law, Medicine and Humanities. Grand Duke Ludwig ensured the continued existence of the University of Freiburg in the unstable times at the beginning of the 19th century. From this point on, the University has carried the names of its two benefactors in its name in gratitude to their generosity. The foundation of the Prussian Empire brought about an increase in enrolment. As a result of the influx of students from northern Germany, the University soon expanded well beyond its medieval walls. Between 1870 and 1885, enrolment increased from 200 to 1,000 students and by 1904 there were already 2,000. Today, more than 21,500 students are enrolled at the Albert-Ludwig University of Freiburg. With humanities and the University Library in the city centre, the Natural Sciences Campus (Institutsviertel) in the north and the large University Hospital at the west end of the old city, the University has grown together with the city. The recent acquisition of a 40 hectare area on the grounds of the airfield assures that it will be able to continue to do so in the future.