Freiburg im Breisgau - Freiburg im Breisgau visitor guide showing a virtual tour of 'Freiburg im Breisgau' linked to an interactive map with local and travel information. 360° panoramas from Baden-Wuerttemberg.

Freiburg im Breisgau grew up on the banks of the Dreisam River at the foot of the Schlossberg in the Baden-Württemberg region of southwest Germany. The city is at the heart of a major wine growing region, and acts as a gateway for Black Forest tourism. It is known for the old university and its medieval cathedral.

Freiburg im Breisgau - History

Freiburg im Breisgau was founded in 1120 as a free market town on a strategic junctin on the trade routes between Rhine and Danube rivers and the Mediterranean Sea and the North Sea. The town grew rapidly and in around 1200 began construction of the Romanesque, and later Gothic, Freiburg Münster cathedral, which was completed in 1513.

In the 14th century, there was continuous friction between the residents of Freiburg and the landlord, resulting in armed conflict at times. Eventually, in 1368 Freiburg purchased its independence and turned to the Hapsburgs for support. Freiburg grew wealthy on local silver mines, becoming one of the most prosperous cities in Europe with its own coin, the Rappenpfennig.

The city remained catholic during the Reformation, but suffered badly through war between the 17th to 19th centuries, with the population reducing from 14,000 to 2,000 during the Thirty Year War. During this period, Freiburg im Breisgau changed hands several times, being ruled at points by Austrian, French, Swedish, Spanish and German forces.

Freiburg suffered heavy bombing damage during World War II. It was first bombed by the Luftwaffe in 1940, and later by the RAF Bomber Command in 1944 which destroyed large sections of the city center, but spared the Münster. After the war, Freiburg was handed over to the French Zone of Occupation, and the French retained forces here until 1991.

Freiburg im Breisgau - Tourist Attractions

Today, Freiburg im Breisgau is a bustling city and tourism gateway to the Black Forest. Top tourist attractions within the city include:

• Augustinermuseum (Augustinian Museum) - housed in the former Augustinian monastery with a collection of art and artefacts, such as stained glass, gargoyles and statues, from religious buildings in the Upper Rhine region.
• Freiburger Münster (Freiburger Cathedral) - one of the great masterpieces of Gothic architecture in Germany, full of works of art, built between the 13th - 16th centuries.
• Kaiserstuhl - volcanic hill rising to 557m in the plains northwest of Freiburg im Breisgau with beautiful scenery.
• Schlossberg - hill rising to 460m on top of which are the remains of 3 castles and good views over the city.
• Colombi-Schlösschen - 19th century building housing the Museum of Prehistory and Early History.
• Haus zum Walfisch (House of the Whale) - late 16th century ate Gothic burgher's house said to be built for for Emperor Maximilian in his old age.
• Münsterplatz - one of the most important civic squares in Freiburg im Breisgau, surrounded by cafes and hotels.
• Museum für Naturkunde (Natural History Museum) - housed in the former convent, Adelshauser Kloster, alongside the Museum für Völkerkunde (Museum of Ethnography)
• Rathausplatz - central square to Freiburg im Breisgau, home to both the Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall) and the 16th century Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall).
• Martinstor (St Martin's Gate) - oldest of the two 13th century gate towers.
• Schwabentor (Swabian Gate) - Old city gate tower built around 1200 and surrounded by very old public houses.
• Roter Baren - built and running since 1387 this is the oldest pub in Germany.
• Freiburg Bächle - series of small canals running through the Old Town, probably providing both water and sewage conduits in the past.
• Lienhart Müller Store - oldest store in Freiburg im Breisgau, built by Lienhart Müller between 1520-32, façade adorned with statues by Hans Sixt von Staufen.
• Breisacher Tor (Breisacher gate) - only surviving city gate built in the 17th century during French occupation.
• Naturpark Südschwarzwald - Freiburg im Breisgau is near the western side of the beautiful and popular Southern Black Forest Nature Park.

Car: Freiburg im Breisgau is about 140km south of Karlsruhe on the A5. It is about 30km east of Breisach am Rhein on the border with France and about 70km north of Basel in Switzerland.
Flight: Frankfurt Airport or Zurich Airport and then 2 hours by train.
Train: Freiburg Klinikum, Freiburg(Breisgau) Hbf stations.