Have you ever felt the pulse of a city beat beneath your feet? Here in Freiburg’s Neuburg you can. This northern suburb isn’t just a place it’s a chapter in Freiburg’s history. Established soon after Freiburg itself in the 12th century Neuburg thrived. It had its own town wall a pauper’s infirmary even an orphanage.
Imagine Neuburg as a bustling northern extension of Freiburg’s medieval core. It wasn’t always a quiet corner of the city. Excavations in 2016 unearthed incredible secrets. They found remnants of 11th-century settlements. More astonishingly they discovered the oldest wine press in southern Germany. A piece of a 12th-century musical instrument was also found adding a melodic touch to the past.
But Neuburg’s story isn’t all wine and music. The Thirty Years’ War left its mark. The French occupation in 1677 brought even more upheaval. Vauban the famed military engineer razed Neuburg. He needed space for his imposing ring of fortifications. This created a fortress district giving cannons a clear field of fire. Think of Neuf-Brisach a similar Vauban fortress 25 kilometers west of Freiburg. It gives a picture of what Freiburg’s fortifications might have looked like.
The French left in 1745. They blew up the fortifications. Nature reclaimed Neuburg its ruins becoming overgrown. Repopulation didn’t start until around 1825. The area was renamed Ludwigsvorstadt to honor Baden’s grand duke. The medieval name Neuburg was revived in the 20th century.
World War II nearly wiped Neuburg from the map. The district was almost completely destroyed during the bombing of Freiburg in November 1944. Today Neuburg is a blend of past and present. The University’s mathematics and natural sciences faculties are located here. So is the Herder publishing house now home to the university’s faculty of forestry and environmental sciences. Its archaeological collection holds antique originals and plaster casts of antique sculptures. The eastern side of Neuburg houses authorities hospitals and trade schools. You’ll find two green oases: the Stadtgarten and the Old Cemetery Freiburg’s burial ground from 1683 to 1872. The district connects to Freiburg’s tram lines 2 and 4 and bus line 27.
The Neuburg district may be split by Habsburger Street. Its name may be little used. Its history however remains vivid a testament to Freiburg’s enduring spirit. A walk through Neuburg is a journey through time. It’s a journey through Freiburg’s resilient soul.