Consecrated in 1513, having taken over 300 years to build, Freiburg Cathedral is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. The 116-metre (318-ft) high west tower, which soars above the jumbled rooftops of the Black Forest city, was described by Swiss historian Jacob Burckhardt as ‘the most beautiful spire in Christendom’and contains the ‘Hosanna’ bell which dates from 1258; the bell is still rung every Friday at 1100. Visitors can climb the tower for excellent views over Freiburg and the Black Forest. The interior of the cathedral is just as beautiful, the highlight being Hans Baldung Grien’s Renaissance High Altar, depicting the life of the Virgin Mary. Münsterplatz, the cathedral square, is a lively venue all year round, but is particularly atmospheric on long summer evenings, when people sit outside cafés enjoying the wine that is produced in local vineyards.

Freiburg Wirtschaft und Touristik GmbH & Co KG, Rotteckring 14, 79098 Freiburg, Germany
Tel: (0761) 388 1880. Fax: (0761) 37003. E-mail: touristik@fwt-online.de
Website: www.freiburg.de

Air: Euro-Airport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg. Rail: Train: ICE (InterCity Express) trains to Freiburg Hauptbahnhof (from Hamburg, Frankfurt and Basel) and IC/EC (InterCity and regional) trains to Freiburg Hauptbahnhof (from Hamburg, Frankfurt and Cologne). Tram: Bertoldsbrunnen, Oberlinden. Road: Car: A5 Frankfurt-Basel (exit Freiburg-Mitte).

Cathedral: Mon-Sat 0700-1900. Tower: Tues-Sat 1000-1600, Sun 1300-1700 (winter); Mon-Sat 0930-1700, Sun 1300-1700 (summer).

Cathedral: Free. Tower: EUR1.5/DM2.9 (adult), EUR0.3/DM0.6 (child under 12). Concessions available.

Germany