Schlossberg (castle hill)

It is just a few steps - or a ride on the Schlossbergbahn railway from the Stadtgarten - into the Black Forest countryside with a view of the city. At sunset, Freiburg residents and visitors alike can enjoy the 360-degree panorama over Freiburg's old town with its striking cathedral and the hilly landscape of the Vosges mountains in the distance.

Almost 1,000 years ago, the dukes of the Swabian princely dynasty built the Burghalden castle up here, which gave the Schlossberg its name. The Zähringers were followed by the Counts of Freiburg, the Habsburgs and French occupiers - who expanded the medieval castle into a fortress in the 17th century under their famous builder Vauban. It was blown up when the French withdrew in the mid-18th century; today its ruins, the Bismarck Tower built in 1906 and the Cannon Square bear witness to Freiburg's chequered history. Information boards and 3D showcases along various adventure routes tell you more about individual moments in this history.