Spring Break 2014 – Freiburg, Germany

This week I haven’t shared much, I am sure you guys are wondering where I have been. I hope you were not worried I had run away for good, I actually only ran away for a week. This week was Spring Break for my kids and my husband was running a marathon in south-west Germany, so we decided to make a trip out of it.  Our first stop was Frieburg, Germany or Freiburg im Breisgau on the western edge of the Black Forest. This is where my husband would be running his marathon so we didn’t plan our travel here specifically for the location.

This is a fairly large city and while not as picturesque as some of the cities I have been too it does have a great shopping district and some interesting landmarks. One of the most notable features in Freiburg are the flowing waterways running down the edge of the street.

“The city has an unusual system of gutters (called Freiburg Bächle) that run throughout its centre. These Bächle, once used to provide water to fight fires and feed livestock, are constantly flowing with water diverted from the Dreisam. They were never intended to be used for sewage, and even in the Middle Ages such use could lead to harsh penalties. During the summer, the running water provides natural cooling of the air, and offers a pleasant gurgling sound. It is said that if one accidentally falls or steps into a Bächle, they will marry a Freiburger, or ‘Bobbele'” Wikipedia.org

I guess my son will be marring a Freiburger since he spent most of his time engrossed in these little gutters building dams and floating leaves and sticks along the current. Quite the attraction…One store even had theirs filled with a tether of rubber duckies.

Another main attraction was the Freiburg Münster a beautiful medieval cathedral started around 1200 in Romanesque style and continued in 1230 in Gothic style. The cathedral is topped with an amazingly intricate Gothic tower completed in 1330 which has miraculously lasted until the present, surviving the bombing raids of 1944.

We made several attempt to visit the cathedral and kept missing the opening time, so we decided on Monday, our last morning in Freiburg, we would make one final attempt.

Success! You can see we were not disappointed. Well my husband and I were not disappointed. My 13 year daughter however has given us a “one old church a day” quota so once we toured this one she did not want to see any more for at least 24 hours. Hard to do in Germany. She also limits viewing of statues but that is another story.

And while the Cathedral viewing was a success the farmers market that was set up outside was just as lovely. All over Germany you can find the most amazing farmers markets set up in the beautiful Altstadt (old town) squares. Spring time means they are at their best! While you will always find fruits and vegetables, breads and meats, and other homemade offerings Spring means flowers and plants galore… and tulips, lots and lots of tulips in every variety you can think of!

So what about the kids what did they vote best in Freiburg? Well my 13-year-old daughter of course loved the shopping but over all the vote would have to go to the Schlossbergbahn. This is a funicular rail system that takes you up to the hills overlooking Freiburg. The view is lovely this time of year and the kids really enjoyed the ride.

All in all we loved Freiburg, marathon or not, we all had a great time. It was definitely a complete success!