Located on a high plateau adjacent to the Black Forest, Freudenstadt is a historic town in the German state of Baden-Württemberg. It was founded in 1599 by Frederick of Württemberg and laid out on the designs of Heinrich Schickhardt. Freudenstadt has long attracted visitors due to its fresh air and favourable climate, with Mark Twain and King George V among its previous guests.
Things to do in Freudenstadt
In the heart of Freudenstadt is Germany’s largest marketplace, which is framed by arcaded houses and the historic Rathaus. It houses a museum detailing the local history, with both permanent and changing exhibitions on display. Learn about the shelling of Freudenstadt during World War II and its reconstruction in the wake, then admire paintings, drawings and sculptures from artists based in the Black Forest region.
Rising above the marketplace are the green-roofed towers of the Stadtkirche, which was built in a combination of Gothic and Renaissance styles in the early 17th century. Constructed using red sandstone, its exterior is decorated with sculptural panels by Georg Schmidt while the interior features medieval furnishings and a Romanesque baptismal font.
Travelling with kids? They’ll love meeting the friendly animals at Herrenwies Hof, a family-run hobby farm home to rabbits, alpacas and cashmere goats. Alternatively, you can enjoy a round on the quirky greens of Adventure Golf Freudenstadt before relaxing over coffee and cake in the beer garden. For spectacular views across the region, head to the 25-metre-high Frederick’s Tower, which rises atop the nearby Kienberg.
Getting around Freudenstadt
Freudenstadt is around 1.5 hours’ drive from the centre of Stuttgart and an hour from Stuttgart Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe and North Africa. Regular buses connect to the Freudenstadt railway station and buses travel through the town.