Old architectural gems and other interesting sights in Freiburg (Photo-essay)

The Black Forest.  It's one of those evocative names -- and this even discounting a delicious cake being named after it!  So when my German friend suggested that we visit Freiburg -- more specifically, Freiburg im Breisau, a city known as the Jewel of the Black Forest -- during my most recent trip to her native land, I immediately signalled my agreement.

In my mind's eye, I had imagined that Freiburg would be a fairytale locale deep in the heart of a forest so dense that its foliage would look black rather than green.  As it turned out, however, I didn't notice the presence of that many trees either inside the city or immediately outside it.  Instead, what really struck me -- especially compared to the likes of Trier -- was how very crowded Freiburg was. Indeed, I'd also go so far as to state that this city may be the most touristy of all the ones I've been to in Germany in recent years -- including the more famous (to my mind) Heidelberg and Cologne!

 Strolling about in Freiburg, one encounters sights like

the impressive old Kaufhaus (Customs House), with its statues of 

four Habsburg Emperors that ruled over the region

Also in the old part of the city is the Zum Roten Baren,

a hotel whose foundations predate the founding of Freiburg in 1120

But when gazing about you, don't forget to look down occasionally -- 

if only to avoid accidentally stepping or falling into the bachles 

(channels of water running through many of Freiburg's streets and alleys)! 

 Not something one expects to see in a German city's waterway

-- the large stone head of a crocodile! :O

This man whose knee armor and sword are designed to 

look like heads was another surprising sight in Freiburg --

this one found in the city's Minster (Munster)

I also found it interesting to discover by way of one of 

the church's stained glass window that the patron saint 

of England also is the patron saint of the city of Freiburg

Puppet Ponyo was most impressed by the Munster's

116 meter high tower which was the only Gothic

tower in Germany completed in the Middle Ages

For my part, I was most impressed by the people who managed 

to not be distracted by the large -- and often loud -- crowds 

of tourists and be able to pray in this much visited church