Freiburg always had a high level of city freedoms, and this is even reflected in its name - it translates as "Free City". It was founded in 1120 immediately as a free city - that is, a city that had the right to choose city government, create a city guard, collect local taxes, erect city walls and build a cathedral.

Freiburg came quickly grew - due to the location at the crossroads of European trade routes - and just as quickly became rich. In the middle of the 15th century, a university was founded here (one of the oldest in Germany), the city maintained its independence for a long time, although almost all passing armies tried to capture it: the French, Austrians, Spaniards, Swedes, other German principalities and many other conquerors.

Now, more than 800 years later, the history of the founding of Freiburg still determines the appearance of its historical sights - and there are a lot of them here.

The most important landmark of the city is the Freiburg cathedral . It is built only on 80 l m after the city's laying and almost did not suffer from destruction for its long history . Now it is a pearl of Gothic architecture with a very high level of safety, decorated with stunning statues, carvings, and outside - the famous gargoyles . This is the case when the cathedral stands to go inside: there was preserved the interior decoration - paintings, altar paintings made by Holbein, carved objects and many other elements .

It is worth to go to Kloster der Augustinereremiten - the Augustinian monastery of the 13th century bookmark where the ancient Gothic parts, especially since now one of the most interesting museums in the region is located here - the Augustinian Museum.

Another thing that it's a pity to miss is the preserved city gates, they were left in the world a little. . Initially there were five of them, but Only two survived: Martinstor (gates . Martina) and Schwabentor (that is, the Schwabs gate) . They were built in the 13th century, but later they were rebuilt several times, and in the 19th century made public for transport . Martinstor was once the so-called witch prison: Freiburg pros was a witch-hunt very active in the region in the 16th and 17th centuries, and the victims of this hunt were kept here . The city guard was in Schwabentor, and now there is a museum of dioramas dedicated to the history of Southern Germany .

Narrow high gateways The towers above the gates are located along the old city boundaries. Once outside from the city walls was a ditch with water, but now only a few small canals have survived from it. Here and there you can see the remains of city walls and other defense buildings. In the old part of the city there were mostly old squares and an original street layout.

In addition to the fundamental buildings, many and less ceremonial buildings were preserved in Freiburg, and in some places - ordinary residential houses of the century are as high as 14-15, and this is a big a rarity.

So, it is famous Historische Kaufhaus - "Historical store". Originally it really was a shop - a shop built in the 15th century. The building was several times increased - the business grew, but the original foundation was preserved. This is a wonderful old house, very colorful. Now there is something like a conference hall - it hosts concerts, meetings and banquets.

The unique building is on Oberlinden Square. This is one of the oldest preserved inns in Germany (and according to some sources, the oldest), called Zum roten Baren - "The Red Bear". It was founded simultaneously with the city - in 1120 and still works as a hotel and a restaurant. The restaurant is good, specializes in regional cuisine, and some of the halls have been preserved from historical times (they are with medieval stonework, beams on ceilings, etc.)

Freiburg Photo

Altes Rathaus - The Old Town Hall , built in the middle of the 16th century, and Alte Munsterbauhutte - a half-timbered medieval building in which builders of the cathedral were once housed . Interesting and the Basler Hof is a gothic building from the 15th century, and Haus zum Walfisch - it was built in the early 16th century, in Once he lived Erasmus Rotterdam . Preserved some wonderful small churches, including - Gothic Kirche St . Martin, built by Franciscan monks in the 13th century and richly decorated in baroque Jesuit church . On the hills around the city can be seen castles - some more or less good condition some in ruins, but still interesting . The locks, by the way, if you want easy access from .

entire Old town pedestrian, colorful and very atmospheric, then there are many local legends and fairy tales.

Freiburg has a very high level of safety for Germany. Many ancient streets survived, many medieval buildings, the remains of defense buildings, and the famous cathedral all over the world, all gathered in a small section. This is really worth a trip, if you like history, the Middle Ages or historical architecture.