Freiburg
The Black Forest Sunshine City
In Freiburg, you encounter historic sights at every corner. The Münsterplatz (Cathedral Square) is surrounded by impressive buildings, the tallest of which is the steep-roofed Historisches Kaufhaus (Historic Merchants’ Hall) with its colorfully adorned bartizans. Sights worth visiting include the Altes und Neues Rathaus (Old and New Town Hall), the Haus zum Walfisch (House of the Whale) with its superb late Gothic portal, the Basler Hof (Basel Court) and the two medieval city gates Martinstor (Martin Gate) and Schwabentor (Swabian Gate) still standing today. Visitors to Freiburg will quickly note a unique city feature, the socalled Bächle – or little streams – built nearly 600 years ago as a water supply and to fight fires. If you attempt to climb the Münsterturm (Cathedral Tower), you will be rewarded at the pinnacle of your climb with a breathtaking view. And even at such lofty heights, the enchanting ambiance of this old university town is palpable. The Old Town's numerous historical monuments, museums, theaters, cozy restaurants and quaint bars all make this city so popular among students and visitors alike.
It was assembled from 1557 - 1559 from many old houses. The façade was originally completely painted. Since 2007 the Tourist Information Center can be found in this building. The new town hall was only created from 1896 to 1901 due to modification of a semi-detached house from the Renaissance. For many years, it served as a "Kollegiengebäude" (university building) and administration building of the university founded in 1457; later it was then an anatomy and polyclinic. A glockenspiel tower bells chimes daily at 12 o'clock from the turrets of the new mid section.
Due to the oldest crossing of the Dreisam River and the Oberlinden road junction, the "Obertor" or the "Schwabentor" (Swabian Gate) gates were of particular importance which was also demonstrated with the weir system. 
The biggest art movements of the last 100 years are represented in the "Museum für Neue Kunst" (Museum of Modern Art) by masterpieces ranging from Classic Modernism to the present day. Names such as Feininger, Dix, Heckel, Hofer, Macke, Scherer, Kanoldt, Dischinger and Scholz symbolize the greatest differences between Expressionism and New Objectivity. 
The "Konviktstrasse" (Konvikt Street) is an excellent example of Old Town restoration, successfully integrating modern and old architecture into a charming living environment. Many modern buildings also retain their old façades.
The historic "Kaufhaus" (Merchant's Hall, 1520-30) is a symbol of the importance of trade in medieval Freiburg. 
The villa was built in 1859-1861 for the countess de Zea Bermudez y Colombi. 
The unique 381-foot-high square tower of the "Münster" (Cathedral) ranks among the masterworks of Gothic architecture, enhancing Freiburg's incomparable silhouette. Begun in 1200 in Romanesque style and completed in 1513 with a red sandstone exterior, its sculptured figures and stained-glass windows are impressive testimony to the plasticity and expressiveness of medieval art. The rich interior bears witness to the generosity and civic pride of local families, who had to foot the bill for construction after the ruling family died out. The view from the tower extends over the medieval rooftops to the Black Forest and vineyard hills. 
Freiburg's colorful market takes place at the "Münsterplatz" (Cathedral Square) - just as it has for more than 200 years. 
The "Bächle" are an integral part of the historical Old Town. Originally they were most likely used for the provision of water for industrial use and as sewers. Today the canals cater for a pleasant climate and are a popular play area for adults and children alike. But watch out. It is said that visitors who come to Freiburg and who step into one of the canals have not visited Freiburg for the last time. 
The new "Augustinermuseum" (Augustinian Museum) houses a renowned art collection with works ranging from the Middle Ages up to the Baroque period, as well as paintings from the 19th century. Thanks to the architect Christoph Mäckler, the former monastery church has been transformed into an impressive modern museum building which allows the works to be viewed from many different angles and makes visiting the museum an exciting experience. 
Freiburg is also called Gateway to the Black Forest – the peaks, valleys and lakes, churches and monasteries of the Black Forest are all within easy reach of the city. Besides the “Titisee”, with its famous Cockoo-Clocks manufactories.