Freiburg is an old city by European standards: it was founded in 1120. The history of all old cities is closely intertwined with legends, and Freiburg is no exception. According to legend, the great humanist Erasmus of Rotterdam and the inventor of gunpowder Bertold Schwartz lived in this city. It is said that the cuckoo wall clock and the famous Black Forest cherry cake with whipped cream were invented here. For Germany climate and geography, please check TopPharmacySchools.
The originality of Freiburg consists of several features:
- Location on the border: in half an hour or an hour you can easily get from here to Swiss Baselor French Mulhouse.
- An abundance of students from all over the world that make Freiburg young, lively and fun.
- Beauty: the whole city center behind the ancient gates has a special charm.
- Nature: The Black Forestis very close, and not far from the city you can perfectly walk through the wooded hills.
In addition, Freiburg is called one of the safest German cities. Given all this, it is not surprising that many students are happy to turn into “eternal” here and consider their city the best in the country.
How to get there
The city is in close proximity to major European cities and airports: 81 km to Basel, 145 km to Zurich, 89 km to Strasbourg, 136 km to Karlsruhe. From these cities, Freiburg can be reached by rail, and in total, the city is connected by direct communication with 37 cities in Europe. In addition, Freiburg can be reached via the state highways A3 and A5.
Transportation
The routes of the city tram are laid out in such a way that you can conveniently get from one attraction to another. But transport is not cheap (a single ticket for an adult costs from 2.30 EUR, for a child – 1.40 EUR), so it makes sense to buy a daily pass. Freiburg’s online bus and tram maps will help you plan your route (website in English). You can also buy travel tickets there or find out about points of sale (there are a lot of them throughout the city).
Another popular option is a bicycle: early in the morning, streams of students and citizens are driven along the cobblestones to work, study or to the station. To see more sights, you can rent a bike, although the city center is small, you can explore it on foot. Just keep in mind: at the central city intersection (there is an equestrian monument) you must dismount, traffic is prohibited here.
Hotels and restaurants in Freiburg
For those who come to get acquainted with the capital of the Black Forest, as Freiburg is sometimes called, the doors of several dozen hotels are open, including tiny private and rather large chain hotels. But everywhere, regardless of the size of the hotel, employees are distinguished by professionalism and cordiality.
Diverse and restaurants in the city. Its geographical location – proximity to France and Switzerland – has left its mark on the menu of many establishments: along with German cuisine, they usually offer a large selection of French and Swiss dishes.
On the territory of the Black Forest, the Swabian dialect is in use, which differs markedly from the literary German language and at first may cause bewilderment among visitors. But the tourist staff most often speaks classical German.
Freiburg Attractions and Attractions
Looking at the beauty of this prosperous city, spread among the mountains, it is hard to believe that its history is full of bloodshed. This is the many sieges during the religious 30-year war in the 18th century, when the population of the city was reduced to 2000 people, and the subsequent raids by the Austrian and French troops, and the destruction of most of the city during the Second World War.
Through the efforts of the townspeople, the city was completely restored, and now more than 3 million tourists come to Freiburg every year. They are attracted not only by historical sites, but also by the mild climate of the region, and thermal springs, lakes and coniferous forests near Freiburg. Therefore, many hotels in the city offer their guests, in addition to the standard set of services, wellness programs of various levels.
Cathedral
The construction of the magnificent Freiburg Cathedral lasted from the 12th to the 14th century. The architecture of this building shows the features of three styles at once – Romanesque, late Romanesque and Gothic. The gothic style is the most striking here: first of all, the numerous decorations of the walls and gutters are striking. Münster, as the Germans call it, is the only cathedral in Germany built in the Middle Ages and preserved to this day. He also survived the shelling during the Second World War, when almost all the houses around were destroyed.
The cathedral has become a recognizable symbol of Freiburg: its tall 116-meter carved tower is visible from afar. Climbing it, you can admire the panorama of Freiburg and its environs. And there is something to admire – the city is remarkably beautiful: its tiled roofs, narrow streets paved with Rhine stone, two town halls are buried in greenery and flowers.
Another observation deck in Freiburg opened relatively recently, in 2002 – this is the Schlossberg observation tower on the mountain of the same name. It is believed that the most complete panorama of the city opens from here (taking into account the hill on which the tower stands, the height is about 200 m). The tower was built on donations from the townspeople, and the names of patrons can be read on the plates attached to the steps. To climb to the observation deck, you need to overcome 153 steps.
Amusement parks
Another attraction of Freiburg is Europa-Park, one of the most popular amusement parks in Germany. About a hundred diverse, sometimes unique attractions are collected on an area of 85 hectares – these are 11 quarters, each of which is decorated in the style of a certain European country.
It is symbolic that this park is located in the heart of Europe, at the point of contact between Germany, France and Switzerland.
Freiburg University
The University of Freiburg is one of the oldest in Europe, it traces its history back to 1457. Since its foundation, its academic school has earned high praise from scientists throughout Europe. The diploma of this university is still quoted all over the world to this day, and the university itself leaves a certain imprint on the life of the city: there are more than 30,000 students per 200,000 inhabitants in the city! In addition, language schools for teenagers and children operate on the basis of this educational institution. And thanks to the specific climate of the Black Forest, language learning can be combined with a wellness program and recreation.
