Freiburg, Germany (Black Forest)

 

I'm in the southwest corner of Germany with the French border a dozen miles away. Freiburg (population 230,000) is the gateway city to the Black Forest--a large forested mountain range roughly 100 miles by 30 miles. It's market day and Freiburg Cathedral is surround by food vendors. 

Freiburg still has two medieval gates guarding the city center. This is the exterior view of Swabian Gate built in 1250. Who would have thought that almost 800 years later the gate would give passage to trams.   

This is the other side view of Swabian Gate. What are those people doing with their feet in the gutter? Actually, Freiburg has had a gutter system running throughout the city center streets for hundreds of years. It's very unique. Why? It's not sewage --the constantly flowing water through the gutters is diverted from nearby Dreisam River. Originally it was to provide water for livestock, fight fires AND, cool off the city. 

The temperature today will hit 97 degrees and tourists as well as locals are sitting down cooling off their feet. The water is crystal clear and penalties are harsh to anyone found polluting the water. 

Lots of colorful buildings.

Red seems to be the most popular color.

This is Martinstor Gate. It dates back to 1202. Notice the McDonald's sign to the right of the gate? There's a McDonald's store to the right of the sign and the city council was unsuccessful in preventing the company from placing its name next to the medieval gate. 

Shaded cafe in Freiburg.

I'm in downtown Donaueschingen (population 21,000) and why have I taken a picture of a pool of water? This is the source of the Danube River, the second longest river in Europe (the Volga River in Russia is the longest). I'm lucky as the place is usually swarming with people taking selfies. 

Another view taken from above. The Danube River flows 1,770 miles and passes through 10 countries. Still doesn't beat the Mississippi River which stretches 2,340 miles. See that building in the background? That's a huge palace along with extensive grounds. Unfortunately the place is off-limits to the public as it's owned by the Princes of Fuerstenberg.

I like this fountain outside Donaueschingen's town hall.

Closer view of fountain with its musical scene.

Here's what you see upon entering Riegel (population 4,000). That's a former brewery where Riegeler beer was brewed from 1834-2003. The beer company was taken over in 2003 by another brewer and to save money this was closed down. Now, it has been turned into lofts and commercial offices. 

They like their beer in Riegel as I count five beers gardens around town

Riegel's city hall is a real beaut. 

So it's mid-afternoon, very hot and, I've stopped in Radolfzell (population 31,000) for a gelato cone. I'm standing next to a real estate office and see this fake dog in the window.

On closer inspection I find the dog is real! The heat through the glass has got to be brutal. He's doing some sunbathing or else he likes people watching--either way he doesn't look too happy.