Have you ever felt the earth beneath your feet whisper stories of centuries past? Here at Tier-Natur-Erlebnispark Mundenhof you stand on ground first documented in 864. A deed of gift then transferred the Muntichova estate to the Abbey of Saint Gall for farming. For centuries the Mundenhof belonged to the monastery of Günterstal. After the monastery’s dissolution the Grand Duchy of Baden took possession before selling it to the University of Freiburg in 1808.
The Tier-Natur-Erlebnispark Mundenhof wasn’t always a zoo. Freiburg’s city acquired much of the land in 1889 for agricultural use. They expanded it significantly creating the Freiburger Rieselfelder a natural water purification plant. The Mundenhof supplied workers for this plant. It was one of Baden-Württemberg’s biggest farms. It boasted 400 cows producing 400 000 liters of milk annually. Pig breeding and crop production further thrived. The water purification plant closed in 1985 though. The farm struggled economically. It transformed into a model ecological farm supplying straw and food for the animals.
The Tier-Natur-Erlebnispark Mundenhof’s zoo opened in 1968. It’s the largest in Baden-Württemberg covering 38 hectares. Mayor Eugen Keidel championed the project. The Friends’ association for Freiburg zoological gardens was founded in 1971. The zoo showcases domesticated and some wild species. A key goal is caring for and displaying endangered domesticated breeds. The park’s divided into eight sections each representing a continent. Peacocks gibbons macaques emus ostriches alpacas yaks and llamas are among its residents.
There’s more than animals. A former horse barn houses an aquarium with saltwater and freshwater pools. It’s funded by donations. The park has many paths with stunning views of Freiburg and its surroundings. A restaurant Hofwirtschaft and a playground also invite visitors. Storks nest on the grounds easily observed with binoculars.
The Tier-Natur-Erlebnispark Mundenhof is open 24/7. There is no entrance fee. Donations and parking fees sustain it. The KonTiKi program brings nature closer to children teaching respect for the environment. The international Tent Music Festival ZMF takes place nearby annually. The park is indeed a unique blend of nature history and community. So explore its rich tapestry of sights sounds and stories.