Freiburg Museums and Culture

From: Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany

ABOVE: An exhibit in the Winzigerhaus history museum. TOP INSET BELOW: A Madonna and child in the Augustinermuseum, and the Freiburger Fastnetmuseum.

Museums

The Freiburg Official Guide lists nine museums, several of which are likely to be of special interest to visitors.

The Augustinermuseum is the city's largest museum. It occupies a former monastery on the Augustinerplatz, where the cloisters and rooms display examples of medieval religious sculpture and "flat art"--among them, original statues from Freiburg's Münster or cathedral. Other exhibits include decorative arts and paintings from more recent centuries. (The museum is undergoing a major renovation between now and 2009, but don't let that discourage you from visiting.)

On the Münsterplatz, the Winzigerhaus Municipal History Museum is a small but pleasant museum in a restored house from the Baroque era. A winter garden (see photo at top of page) has rotating exhibitions. (During my visit, there was a lively exhibit of modern photographs that showed Freiburgers and their dwellings.)

The inexpensive Zinnfigurenklause or Municipal Tower Museum is a fun place to visit, for two reasons: It's in the Schwabentor, one of the city's medieval watchtowers, and it has thousands of old-fashioned tin soldiers and other figures in dioramas.

The Freiburger Fasnetmuseum in the Zunfthaus der Narren, a.k.a. the Jesters' Guildhall, presents the history of Carnival from the Middle Ages to more recent times. It's located at Turmstrasse 14 and is open only on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For tourists with special tastes, Kleine Welt (a dollhouse and doll museum on Heckstrasse) and the Medieval Torture Museum at Münsterplatz 12 may be of interest.

To learn more about Freiburg's museums, see the printed Freiburg Official Guide or visit the German-language Städtische Museen Freiburg Web site.

Culture and performances

Freiburg has a full schedule of concerts, operas, and other performances throughout the year.

The world-renowned Freiburger Barockorchester, a.k.a. the "FBO," performs in Freiburg's Konzerthaus when it isn't on tour in Stuttgart, Berlin, Vienna, and other cities. The Theater Freiburg has opera, German-language plays, and dance. For musical performances (including organ and choir concerts) at the Münster and other churches, visit the Katholische Kirche in Freiburg Web site. Finally, the local tourist office can tell you what other shows, athletic contests, etc. are taking place during your stay.

Next page: Festivals and seasonal events

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