Freiburg Holiday Packages, Deals & City Breaks by Fred.\

Destinations » Germany » Freiburg Travel Guide

Freiburg is a lively university city, located at the Southern end of the Black Forest in Germany, close to the Swiss and French border. Freiburg's townscape is dominated by its magnificent Münster Cathedral on the bustling market square. As you stroll through the town, be sure to look down at the pavement for the colourful mosaics usually found in front of the shops.

Be careful not to step into the little rivers (Bächle) running parallel to many footpaths. A dynamic cultural scene and an excellent range of restaurants and bars add even more to the charm of this beautiful city.

For more information please visit the Freiburg City Break page

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The historical town centre of Freiburg is the heart of this city. The area is traffic-free and has many department stores, specialist shops, fashion boutiques, bookstores, art and antique stores, and a variety of other shops.

The market is a vital part to life in Freiburg. A market is held every weekday on Münsterplatz, the square around the minster, which sells fresh flowers, meats, cheeses, fruits, vegetables and there are also the famous sausage vendors. Baden wine, Black Forest Kirsch schnapps and Black Forest ham are also sold at the market. On the Rotteckring, the market and the stalls sell North African and Indian goods.

Restaurants and taverns

There are many restaurants in Freiburg which offer a great dining experience. The majority of the food served is based on seasonal specialties made with fresh ingredients from the Black Forest region. Freiburg also hosts two annual wine festivals.

For traditional cuisine, try the popular Oberkirchs Weinstuben which has an rustic feel created by the historic wood-beams which decorate the interior.

Heiliggeiststüble is a cheaper alternative which is run by friendly staff. The restaurant-café offers good food at reasonable prices. At the Gasthaus zum Kranz and the Hotel-Restaurant Löwen in the Altstadt, traditional German food is again available at more reasonable prices.

Dining at the Dattler offers an impressive view. Located at the top on the Schlossberg this restaurant is well established in the community, being over 125 years old.

Street food

The Münsterplatz is filled with food vendors which sell the Freiburg speciality of a Bratwurst with cooked onions. For those with more of a sweet tooth, there are also vendors which sell crepes or waffles, and fresh fruit can be bought from a stall in the Münstermarkt.

Freiburg hosts the longest cable car run in Germany, which is 3.6km, or about 2.25 miles (3.62 km) long runs from Günterstal up to a nearby mountain called Schauinsland.

The Augustinerplatz is one of the central squares in the old city. It used to be an Augustine monastery and then became the Augustinermuseum in 1921. Now it is a popular social space for Freiburg's younger residents, where there are numerous restaurants and bars, including the local brewery 'Feierling', which has a beer garden. On warm summer nights, hundreds of students gather here.

At the centre of the old city is the largest square in Freiburg; the Münsterplatz or Cathedral. This is the site where Freiburg's Münster, a gothic Minster built between 1200 and 1530 stands. It's imposing spire towers over the city of Freiburg.

On the south side of Freiburg's Münsterplatz is the Historisches Kaufhaus, or Historical Merchants Hall. It was constructed between 1520 and 1530 and was once the centre of the financial life of the region. Its beautiful façade, decorated with statues and the coat of arms of four Habsburg emperors, makes the Historisches Kaufhaus well worth a visit.