Scenes From Freiburg, Germany
I’ve been waiting for spring for a long time. Since right around the time the first chill of late fall hit the air. And since we got our first snow at the end of October, I think I’ve waited long enough for this dreary winter to call it quits. This past weekend, it finally happened. The sun came out big and bright, the temperature rose to a point that was warm enough for T-shirts, and people poured out of their homes into the center of the city for some much needed outdoor time.
Andy and I spent Sunday afternoon sitting outside at a cafe just enjoying the warmth, sunlight, and each other’s company. But Monday morning when Andy went off to work and I tried to write, I realized Sunday afternoon wasn’t enough for me. I hate cold weather, and I was almost giddy that I could finally go outside without a coat again. So I grabbed my camera and headed back into Freiburg’s old town to wander around and take pictures of the city coming back to life.
Münsterplatz
The big cathedral in the center of town is Münster, and every day but Sunday you can find a lively market all around it. I like to buy vegetables here to make salads. Stroll through to purchase fruits, vegetables, flowers, meats, cheeses, olives and other Mediterranean foods, handmade crafts, spices from all over the world, and local sausages for a quick lunch. Come early though, most stands start shutting down by noon or 1PM, though the sausage stands will stay open longer than the fruit and vegetables stands.
Rathausplatz
City Hall in German is Rathaus (pronounced like rat house) so the square it sits on is Rathausplatz. I don’t think the building itself is all that impressive, but there’s a calm fountain in the square, cobblestones displaying a few of Freiburg’s sister cities, and it’s one of many relaxing places to lounge in the sun.
Bertoldsbrunnen
In the city center is where you will usually find the most people. Bertoldsbrunnen is a fountain at the intersection of two major roads, right where all the trams cross paths, so it’s where people often meet up in town. There are shops and restaurants all along the main roads and various side roads in this area. If you stand in the center where everything intersects, you can see Martinstor, one of two remaining gates of the old city walls. When walking through the center of town, be aware of the Bächle that run along the side of the roads. Bächle are little streams or gutters of running water, and you’ll often see kids pulling little boats in them.
Hopefully this wonderful spring weather is here to stay. I have no desire to put on my scarf again, and I’m quite enjoying wandering through Freiburg in a T-shirt again. Even though this is the sunniest and warmest corner of Germany, that’s still comparing our cold city with an even colder country. It’s been almost a full six months of winter conditions, and I’ve never been happier to see spring arrive. If only there was a way to keep it here permanently.
Explore Freiburg and more with this 1 week itinerary in the Black Forest.
April 18, 2013 @ 11:44 AM
It’s so nice to see photos of where you and Andy live. Makes it a little more “real” for me . thanks
April 19, 2013 @ 10:21 AM
Thanks Mom, glad you liked them!
April 18, 2013 @ 12:33 PM
yaaaay!!!
Spring, spring, finally spring!
I’m soooooo coming alive again!
Unfortunately, they’re predicting a mere 12° for tomorrowhere in Belgium.
NOT COOL! Or better: too cool, for me:/
April 19, 2013 @ 10:21 AM
Well, it’s back down to jacket weather here today, but at least it’s not winter weather again. It’ll be summer before we know it, right?
April 18, 2013 @ 8:43 PM
I loved Freiburg – such a great town! And that market is awesome
April 19, 2013 @ 10:23 AM
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Sorry I missed you guys when you were here!
April 19, 2013 @ 4:50 AM
Beautiful captures! So very colorful and vivid. Thanks for sharing 🙂
April 19, 2013 @ 10:23 AM
Thanks Arti!
April 19, 2013 @ 5:24 AM
Lovely photos. You know how much I loved your little home!!! Thanks for the photos. I want to come see it again when the sun is shining!
April 19, 2013 @ 10:24 AM
Thank you Kim! Come back any time, we’d love to hang out again!
April 19, 2013 @ 8:11 AM
I’m with you, Ali – yay for spring!
April 19, 2013 @ 10:25 AM
Exactly!
April 23, 2013 @ 3:50 AM
You guys live in a really cute town! It looks like you have a really fantastic market too. Market day is Tuesday in our town, though it is a pretty small market.
April 23, 2013 @ 3:10 PM
Thanks Jennifer! I really like ours, it’s pretty big without being overwhelming, and it’s so convenient that it’s open 6 days a week.
May 1, 2013 @ 1:14 PM
You had a good day for photos. Shame we really haven’t had many since then.
May 1, 2013 @ 8:37 PM
Thanks! Yes, definitely ready for more good weather around here.
A Perfect Day in Freiburg - Grounded Traveler
May 15, 2013 @ 9:00 PM
[…] Scenes from Freiburg […]
September 23, 2014 @ 8:35 AM
Hi Ali,
I stumbled onto your site via legalnomads.com and I have to say you write beautifully 🙂
And when i realized you live in Freiburg….I had to say hi 🙂
My aunt and uncle live there, so i know a bit of the city….I live close to Nuremberg. Have you been there yet?
Greetings,
Stef
September 23, 2014 @ 4:52 PM
Hi Stef, thank you so much! Freiburg is a really nice place to live. I was actually just in Nuremberg last week for a few days, and I really liked it! We spent a few hours in Bamberg as well, which was cute. I’ll be writing about that weekend soon!