This route meanders through serene, sleepy streets north-east of the old town, heading towards the vibrant heart of historic Herdern, the church square. The calm and quiet atmosphere along the way will slow your pace right down, allowing you to appreciate all the nature and typical Founding Epoch Architecture style along the way.
The route is flat and suitable for all ages. It’s possible to cut the walk short and return to the starting point from the Herdern church square checkpoint on public transport (Bus Line 27: get on at Freiburg Herdern and get off at Stadtgarten). If you’d like to make more of a day of it, plan a visit to the Botanical Gardens or walk up the Sonnhalde to enjoy a breath-taking view.
Start/end: Karlsplatz square Checkpoint: Herdern church square Length: 3.5 km | 1 hour Suitable for wheelchairs and prams/pushchairs
Starting on Karlsplatz square, take the Karlssteg bridge the Stadtgarten park. A stunning view of the Schlossberg hill and railway awaits. Cross the park to the Ludwigstraße and Mozartstraße junction, then go follow Mozartstraße. Don’t forget to admire all the lovely gardens and villas along the way. Take a right onto Hochmeisterstraße. You’ll be up high enough to see the slopes at this point.
This next stretch is perfect for wandering along at a slow pace and taking in all the spectacular views. As you carry on straight ahead, you’ll soon realise why the locals are so passionate about their neighbourhood. Herdern is obviously a fantastic place to live, surrounded by nature and blessed with sunshine. With every step you take, the city gets further away but the view opens up and just gets better.
Längenhardstraße leads onto Sebastian-Kneipp-Straße, which you need to follow down to the left. Take a right up onto Stadtstraße, where you’ll notice a change in the backdrop. The architecture becomes a little simpler and you definitely feel as though you’ve stepped into a village with some character about it. As you start to notice more and more little shops, you’ll know that the Herdern’s church square isn’t far away.
The sound of the babbling Glasbach stream will be the soundtrack to your walk down Hauptstraße. Follow the flow from east to west and you’ll be at Kirchplatz before you know it. Now’s the perfect time for a pitstop. The longer the better! Fuelled up with a refreshing drink or delicious meal, you’ll be ready to do some exploring. Don’t miss out on fantastic photo opportunities at the fountain and St. Urban Church. And if traditional basket weaving is your thing, you’re in luck.
Follow Hauptstraße to start heading back, taking a left onto Lerchenstraße. Heinrich-Rosenberg-Platz awaits, with its magnificent trees and grand buildings all the way around. If walls could talk, the Friedrich-Gymnasium would have a tale or two to tell, dating back to 1904 when it was built as the second high school in the city to specialise in classical languages.
To the left of the school, you’ll see Tivolistraße. Head down the street until you end up back on Stadtstraße. Haus Fortwaengler at number 43 stands proud as proof that all eyes should be on the architecture once again. At the end of the road, you’ll come to the historical Alte Friedhof cemetery with its mystical atmosphere. As you come out of the exit, you’ll be able to spot the Stadtgarten park where you started.
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