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 appeared, 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 armies that passed by 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 there.

The most important landmark of the city is the Freiburg cathedral .It was built only 80 years later than the city's bookmark 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 - famous gargoyles .This is the case when it is worth going inside to the cathedral: there was preserved the interior decoration - paintings, altar paintings made by Holbein, carved objects and many other elements .

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

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

Narrow, high gate towers above the gates are located along the old borders of the city. 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, mostly old squares remained, and the original layout of the streets.

In addition to the fundamental buildings, many and less ceremonial buildings have survived in Freiburg, and in some places - ordinary residential houses of the century are as much as 14-15, and this is a great rarity.

So, 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.

A unique building is located on the 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 quite good, specializes in regional cuisine, and some of the halls have survived from historical times (they are with medieval stone masonry, beams on ceilings, etc.).

In the center is Altes Rathaus - the Old Town Hall, built in the middle of the 16th century, and Alte Munsterbauhutte - a half-timbered medieval building in which once housed the builders of the cathedral .Interesting and Basler Hof - a gothic building of the 15th century, and Haus zum Walfisch - it was built in the early 16th century, it once lived Erasmus Rotterdam .Preserved several remarkable small churches, including - Gothic Kirche St .Martin, built by Franciscan monks in the 13th century, and a lushly decorated Baroque Jesuit church .In the hills around the city castles are visible - some in more or less good condition, some in ruins, but all interesting .In the castles, by the way, if you want, it's easy to get from the city .

The whole Old Town is pedestrian, picturesque and very atmospheric, there are a lot of 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.