The almost square market square, its arcades and 50 water fountains add a striking architectural feature to Freudenstadt. There is also the town’s history at the Historic Visitor Mine, views and roses in the Kienberg spa area, and the chance to carry out your own experiments at Experimenta. If you are looking for accommodation, start by asking yourself what matters most to you: are you especially interested in architecture and history, a guided tour, or perhaps views and hands-on activities?
Market Square, Church and Town History
The market square in Freudenstadt is considered the largest in Germany. Its almost square layout is bordered by historic buildings with arcades; 50 water fountains are also part of its distinctive appearance. This means you can take in several different features in the same place: the spacious, clear layout, the arcades along the buildings and the fountain installation. The Protestant town church on the market square adds a distinctive floor plan to this architectural impression. Its two naves meet at a right angle rather than running parallel. Anyone interested in urban design and church architecture will find a specific point of comparison with the square’s layout here.
Another way to explore the town’s history is to visit the Historic Visitor Mine in Freudenstadt. It opened in 1999 to mark the town’s 400th anniversary. Guided tours are offered at three different levels of difficulty and exploration. These different levels are a factor to consider when choosing a tour; check the current operating arrangements before your visit. This makes the mine a distinctly different subject of interest from the architectural impressions of the market square.
Views and Roses in the Kienberg Spa Area
The Friedrich Tower is an observation tower at an altitude of 739 metres in the Kienberg spa area. It was built to mark Freudenstadt’s 300th anniversary. Its anniversary connection and elevation give the tower both a historical significance and a point of reference in the landscape. Germany’s highest rose walk is also located in the Kienberg spa area. The tower and rose walk offer different attractions: one focuses on the view, the other on the rose walk and its planting. Rose blooms are seasonal; bear this in mind when planning if you are mainly coming to see the roses in bloom.
Learning and Hands-on Experiences
The Experimenta hands-on museum in Freudenstadt offers insights into physics, nature and technology, and invites visitors to carry out their own experiments. As an interactive museum for the whole family, it offers a different way to engage with these subjects: rather than just viewing exhibits, visitors are encouraged to take part and try things out. Experimenta thus complements the historical and architectural themes with science and technology.
A Cultural Highlight in the Wider Freudenstadt Destination: Alpirsbach
Alpirsbach is also part of the wider Freudenstadt destination and offers its own cultural and historical highlights. Alpirsbach Abbey, with its imposing abbey church, is one of the few monasteries in southwest Germany still preserved according to the model of the medieval Hirsau Reform. A traditional historical walking tour of Alpirsbach takes in historic buildings and includes a stroll through the spa gardens. If you are planning to join the tour, check the current dates in advance.
The two museums in Alpirsbach offer different ways to explore the town’s history. The Museum of Town History explains the development of Alpirsbach through selected collector’s items. The Abbey Museum’s permanent exhibition, “Monks and Scholars,” displays clothing, letters, drawings, games and vessels from six centuries. If you are focusing on cultural history, you can choose between the town’s development and the Abbey Museum’s collection.
An Audio-Guided Hike as an Alternative
If you would rather focus on a hiking route, consider the Tannenriesen audio tour. The audio-guided route starts in Freudenstadt; along the way, it introduces the Black Forest’s largest fir tree, carpets of moss and scenic views. Rustic huts along the route invite you to stop and relax. This offers a different way to explore alongside the town’s cultural attractions. The route adds natural highlights to the overview without requiring you to stay for any particular length of time.
Discover more destinations: Igelsberg, Reinerzau, Bad Rippoldsau-Schapbach, Empfingen, Dornstetten, Seewald, Schopfloch, Horb am Neckar.
Back to the main travel overview: Freudenstadt.
