Why does Littenweiler have a coat of arms featuring silver bullets? Today, we’re exploring Littenweiler. This quarter lies in the southeast of Freiburg. It sits near the Dreisam River. Littenweiler’s history stretches back to the 11th century. Back then, it was known as “Lutenwile.”
Littenweiler began as a farming village. It lay east of Freiburg. The village sat at the edge of the Black Forest. Here, the Dreisam Valley opens to the Zartener basin. Interestingly, Littenweiler’s church is dedicated to Saint Barbara. She is the patron saint of miners. This suggests that miners once lived here. They likely worked in the Schauinsland tunnels. Residents of nearby Kappel also toiled there.
Over time, Littenweiler’s ownership changed. In 1560, the village was divided. One part belonged to the lords of Sickingen. The other part belonged to the Teutonic Order of Freiburg. In 1614, these local lords made an agreement. It organized shared interests such as jurisdiction and taxes.
Even after becoming part of Freiburg in 1914, Littenweiler remained a farming village. This character persisted until the mid-20th century. The modern world arrived with the Höllentalbahn in 1887. A rail station was built. The tram followed in 1925.
From the 1950s, Freiburg’s growing population affected Littenweiler. The district expanded. New housing areas were developed. A new parish church was built for Saint Barbara. The old one became a community hall. The Evangelic Ascension Church was also erected. The University of Education was established too. It was built on fields between the railway and the old village center.
Littenweiler transformed. It changed from a quiet village to a residential quarter. Middle-class families mainly populated it. It merged with neighboring districts like Waldsee and Ebnet.
Littenweiler’s coat of arms reflects its history. It features a white cross on a red background. Each section contains a silver bullet. The cross represents the German Order. The silver bullets symbolize the counts of Sickingen. These were the long-time local lords.
Today, Littenweiler enjoys excellent transport connections. The B 31 highway runs through a tunnel under Littenweiler. This reduces traffic. It also provides a fast connection to the city center and the Black Forest. The Hansjakobstrasse is a major route to the city center. Tram line 1 runs along it. The Höllentalbahn stops at Freiburg-Littenweiler station. It provides frequent service to Titisee-Neustadt.
The Zentrum Oberwiehre shopping center offers shopping options for Littenweiler residents. It is located outside Littenweiler, in Oberwiehre. It is easily accessible by tram. Littenweiler itself has fewer shops. A small center exists near the Lassbergstrasse tram terminal. The old village center includes the former church and town hall. The Reinhold Schneider schoolhouse is also here.
The Catholic Church of St. Barbara stands next to the old church. The old church now serves as the village hall. The Evangelical Ascension Church is a modern concrete building. It has a distinctive bell tower. The St. Anthony retirement home is located in a former spa. It was built around 1844 near a mineral spring. Littenweiler also has a small, old cemetery. A new cemetery, Bergäcker, was built in the 1960s.
Littenweiler is also home to the University of Education Freiburg. The Waldhof Academy provides adult education. The Reinhold Schneider School serves local children. Two large student dormitories also exist. These are the Thomas More Hostel and the Alban Stolz House. Christoph Meckel’s autobiographical narrative “Der Brand” is set in Littenweiler.
Littenweiler has evolved. It changed from a small village into a vibrant part of Freiburg. Its coat of arms reminds us of its past. It connects us to the lords and miners who shaped it.