Melnq8

I've consolidated my notes for our five night stay in Freiburg in mid December.

In addition to Christmas markets and eating/drinking plenty of local fare, this is my short list, which seems awfully short:

Munsterplatz & Cathedral - anyone know if there might be a Christmas organ concert on between Dec 15-19? I can't find anything online (in English anyway).

Augustinermuseum

Mundenhof - maybe - not sure about this, but read there were some walks there

Feldberg & Feldsee

We enjoy winter hiking, but other than Feldberg, I'm not sure where else to look in the Black Forest - I can't get a handle on access points, etc. Any help would be greatly appreciated. We won't have a car.

Suggestions on what to add to my list would be much appreciated!

Andrew

In April, I visited Freiburg for a few days and did a short hike from the nearby town of St. Märgen to the town of St. Peter. I followed instructions in my Rick Steves book to get to/from each town by bus and train. It wasn't that hard, though one bus to train connection is required each way.

The towns are VERY small - worth a quick look but almost nothing to see, a couple of churches and maybe a tiny museum or two, maybe not even open while you would be there. The hike was pretty easy - about five miles as I recall. The views would presumably be breathtaking on a clear day; on the day I hiked it was a bit overcast, so the views were nice but not postcard-pretty or anything.

A pretty town near Freiburg you might want to visit (I did, by train) is Staufen, a postcard pretty town that has been carefully restored but isn't touristy at all.

Melnq8

Beautiful, thank you very much Andrew!

Ingo

I don't see the local mountain mentioned - Schauinsland. I enjoyed the ride up there by gondola very much. It's in maintenance right now and re-opens mid Dec. Check out their website: http://www.schauinslandbahn.de/en/
Good hiking options up there!

There is a fantastic food market around the Minster church on weekdays from morning till 13.30 h. Not to miss!

I second the recommendation of St. Peter and St. Märgen. Staufen is also worth a visit. So is Breisach with Minster church. And what about Colmar? It is just a quick bus ride away. Definitely will keep you busy for a day.

The organ concerts in the minster church are only on Saturdays - bad timing for you, sorry.

Melnq8

How did I miss the local mountain and a food market???

Cheers Ingo!

Ingo

LOL, you'd stumble upon that market anyway, it's not to miss. ;-)

Cheers Melnq8!

Andrew

Yes, Colmar is beautiful. You can get there via public transportation as well (I came from Colmar to Freiburg this way). There's a commuter train that connects to a bus to get you from Freiburg to Colmar. The German train website Bahn.com has info for this connection on their website.

PalenQ

We enjoy winter hiking, but other than Feldberg, I'm not sure where else to look in the Black Forest - I can't get a handle on access points, etc. Any help would be greatly appreciated. We won't have a car.>

I took a train from Freiburg up into the depths of the Black Forest - first to Titisee, then a sideline to Seebrugg - you can do a popular and easy walk around this lake - a real scenic train trip to and not that far time-wise.

Melnq8

Excellent, thank you.

Melnq8

Many thanks for all the help - we've just returned to hot and sticky Perth (a record breaking 111 degrees F yesterday) and I'm already missing winter.

Had a wonderful time, despite the solid five days of crap weather in 'sunny' Freiburg (surprising everyone it seems).

Hotel Minerva was lovely, the breakfast fabulous.

Loved Colmar and Staufen - thought I'd died and gone to heaven with all the lovely bakeries and chocolate shops there and in Freiburg!

Titsee and Feldberg were a bust (seriously lousy weather among other things).

We ate entirely too much bratwurst and Kartelopuffer, but heck, life is short.

I'll post a report eventually, assuming I don't fall over from heat exhaustion.

traveller1959

I am very sorry about the poor weather. Just after you left, we spent two weeks in the High Black Forest and had, with few exceptions, fabulous weather: sunny and perfect skiing conditions. But weather is never predictable...

I am also sorry that you did not like Titisee. It has become very touristy - crowded with tourists from China, Russia, Israel, Arabian countries and a few Americans. English signs and American fast food everywhere. We prefer quieter villages in the Black Forest.

Andrew

I didn't see the sun much in three days in Freiburg myself in April. It rained parts of a few of the days. I had a night in Colmar right before Freiburg, though, and luckily it was sunny and warm there.

Melnq8

Titsee was deserted the day we were there traveler1959 - my disappointment came from the walk around the lake I'd been told about - we found a path that began at the lake, then petered out near a resort, then completely disappeared and became private property. The only way we found to circle the lake was via road and that didn't appeal at all. Perhaps we missed it somehow.