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Schwabentor

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Schwabentor

Schwabentor, Medieval city gate in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany.

Description

The Schwabentor is one of two remaining gates from the original city fortifications, featuring a tower with painted murals and stone construction. Its interior houses the Zinnfigurenklause museum, which displays about 9,000 tin figures arranged in detailed dioramas that depict regional historical events.

History

The gate was built around 1250 and underwent major changes in 1547 when stone walls were added to enclose its inner section and strengthen defenses. This rebuilding reflects how fortification techniques evolved from medieval to early modern times.

Culture

The gate displays a notable relief of a young person with a thorn on its keystone, representing spiritual concepts from medieval religious thinking. This carved image offers visitors insight into how faith shaped the symbolism of the city's defenses.

Practical

The location is easy to reach on foot and sits close to the city center, making it simple to combine with other attractions. The museum inside is generally open on most days, though it is worth checking current opening times before visiting.

Did you know?

Carved into the inner wall is a little-known merchant tale about a Swabian trader who tried to purchase the city using barrels filled with sand instead of gold. This playful story reflects how the town protected itself against deceptive schemes.

GPS coordinates
47.99278,7.85417
Latest update
December 8, 2025 19:41

AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide. Discover all places nearby (Freiburg im Breisgau).

« Schwabentor - Medieval city gate in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany » is provided by Around Us (aroundus.com). Images and texts are derived from Wikimedia project under a Creative Commons license. You are allowed to copy, distribute, and modify copies of this page, under the conditions set by the license, as long as this note is clearly visible.

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