Freiburg

We left Strasbourg, drove back into Germany and headed south along the western edge of the Black Forest (Schwarzwald) to Freiburg. Freiburg is famous for its medieval Munster - the Freiburg Munster which was built around 1200. Freiburg, unlike Strasbourg, did not join the Reformation and was an important Catholicism center in the 1500's.

The city has had its share of turbulent times. It spent time as part of Austria, France, Sweden, Spain and Germany. Freiburg was heavily damaged in WWII - by Germany itself (60 bombs were mistakenly dropped by German planes in 1940) and by the Allies later in the war. The Munster largely survived - thankfully! It is amazing! Freiburg was rebuilt after WWII and the French maintained a military presence in Freiburg from 1945 until 1991.





























































The Munsterplatz is also beautiful!












Freiburg has a unique old system of gutters called Bachle. These did not provide potable water, rather water to fight fires and to give to livestock.

The local tradition says that if you step in a Bachle you will marry a Freiburger...






Joseph stepped in them over and over and wanted his picture taken to document this. Daniel also stepped in them over and over - but never when we were looking - and then he just giggled!











Afternoon coffee...













This is one of the remaining city gates. Freiburg maintained a strong belief in witchcraft for a long time. Witch huntings escalated in Freiburg during the Black Plague in the mid to late 1500's and near this gate along the city wall is where burnings were carried out.












Supper at a local restaurant and a drive home ended a really great day!