Freiburg im Breisgau

The city of Freiburg im Breisgau, or simply Freiburg, is one of the most livable cities in Germany, combining history, a vibrant student atmosphere, and proximity to nature. It is considered the sunniest city in Germany. It has one of the highest annual sunshine hours in the country. That is why the city is often called the “German capital of the sun”.


Freiburg was founded in 1120 by the Dukes of Zähringen. Thanks to its strategic location, the city quickly became an important trading center. During the Middle Ages, the trade in silver-mined in the surrounding mountains-flourished here.


We started our walk by heading up to Castle Hill, where the Schlossberg Observation Tower is located. It’s right here at 47.995028, 7.862000, use the maps.me app to find the route. We started our ascent from the upper station of the Schlossbergbahn funicular (47.996028, 7.860361).






The observation tower was opened in 2002. It is a relatively modern structure made of metal, standing about 35 meters tall. Schlossberg Mountain itself has a much longer history - a fortress once stood here in the Middle Ages, but it was destroyed in the 17th century during the wars. Today, almost nothing remains of it. The summit offers one of the best views of Freiburg and the Rhine Valley.










Interestingly, during our visit in October, the entire tower was covered in insects.








From the observation tower, we went down the Salzbüchsletreppe stairs (47.994500, 7.862361). If you're traveling with children, be sure to bring wooden balls for the kugelbahn, it's located at the bottom of the stairs. 


Next, we headed to Freiburg’s main observation deck, Kanonenplatz (47.993417, 7.857167). It offers a beautiful view of the city’s main landmark - Freiburg Minster. It was built between the 13th and 16th centuries and is today considered one of the most beautiful Gothic cathedrals in Europe.






Next, we went down to the old town; there’s an elevator here at 47.992972, 7.855278, and right next to it is the Kastaniengarten restaurant, which has a great view.












There are also overpasses connecting the mountain and the old town.


The Old Town was rebuilt after World War II, preserving its historic appearance. Freiburg is also a university town. The local university, founded in 1457, has shaped its atmosphere, which is why you’ll see many students in the Old Town.






















One of the city’s main attractions is the “Bächle” water channels. They were once used for water supply and firefighting, but today they simply serve as a decorative feature of the city. According to local legend, if you accidentally step into one of these channels, you’re sure to marry someone from Freiburg.


Thanks to its location near the Black Forest, the city serves as a great base for exploring the countryside. From here, it’s easy to reach hiking trails, waterfalls, and scenic overlooks. That’s exactly what we did: we stayed in Freiburg for a few nights and traveled around the area. We stayed in a lovely spot, in an apartment near Lake Flückigersee (booking.com). If you’re traveling with children, this is a great place to stay - there’s a large playground, and you can take a walk around the lake.


























Getting there: There are good covered parking lots in the Old Town at 47.994222, 7.855750 and 47.997222, 7.853944. The Old Town is 1 km from the Freiburg train station.