As you delve into Germany’s famed Black Forest, you’re bound to visit Freiburg along the way. Rolling green hills, medieval spires, cobblestone lanes lined with immaculate historical architecture and the winding Dreisam River make for delightful first impressions. Freiburg is a model of sustainable urban development and a bustling historic university town. An economic affluence, multicultural student population and healthy tourism industry ensure hotspots galore for every taste and pace. Freiburg is well worth a stop.
Green City
- Can a city produce more energy than it uses? Freiburg, also known as the Green City, can. Sustainable architecture projects like the Solar Settlement, Sun Ship and Heliotrope -- built by “Germany’s solar pioneer,” architect Rolf Disch -- combine living and commercial space with eco-friendly construction materials. Powered by Disch's PlusEnergy concept, the photo-voltaic roofs produce so much energy, the surplus is sold to the public power grid. Stroll pedestrian-only streets, relax in the many green zone parks, or join the growing populace of bicyclists.
Café Culture
- The summer sun favors Freiburg, located in Germany's warmest region. Do like the locals and laze in the sun at cafés along the lanes and squares of old town. Sit in Münsterplatz square in the shadow of the city’s iconic gothic minster cathedral with coffee and cake or taste wines from local vineyards. Saunter the Dreisam River near the university and stop for beer and bratwurst at one of the riverside cafes and biergartens. At night, the choice of bar locales multiplies; student-packed places dominate, but there’s still plenty for the older crowd.
Live!
- Like any student town, the bar scene in Freiburg is huge and includes loads of live music venues. Go elbow to elbow in tiny old town locales with medieval vaulted cellars that double as stages. Punk’s not dead at Atlantik, and local bands can be heard at the trusty Irish Pubs’ Isle of Innisfree or O’Kelly’s. Jazz abounds in Freiburg too -- relax to wine and smooth jazz at Waldsee, Tuesday night jazz at Josfritz Café, sessions by the river at Jazz & Dogs, or bigger concerts at the Jazzhaus.
Clubbing
- With about 20 clubs around the city center, you can dance till you drop in Freiburg. Warm up at locations like the stylish Jackson Pollock Bar, which is open all night on weekends with deejays in the Soundboutique. Step to Electro, D&B and Dub at White Rabbit or the KGB Club. For indie rock to reggae, the insider club EL.PI is popular with students. Bigger clubs with mixed ages and different dance floors include Karma, Nachtschicht, Agar or Kagan.
Chilled-Hot
- The city offers plenty for slower-paced tastes. Waldsee, located on the river, is a relaxing spot to enjoy idyllic surroundings with authentic Baden-region cuisine and a tamer nightlife. Culture in dance, theater and art can be found at E-Werk, also host of the annual Jazz Festival Freiburg. Baden is known for its fine wines, which can be tasted at vineyards, local vendors and wine locales like the Alte Wache on Münsterplatz. Cultural hotspots abound too, with art and history museums, galleries, cuisine, and fabulous historic architecture.
