Fairytale views await us at the Wasserschlössle. It is also known as the water castle in Freiburg. But the facade is only a camouflage. Behind it, there is no real castle with a prince. Instead, there is a lot of water.
Since 1895, a high-level tank has served the drinking water supply in the east of Freiburg. The water flows without pumps to the households like the little canals in the center. It is moved only through the natural gradient. The model for the design was a Freiburg town seal from 1245. You can get a taste of the cool water at the fountain in front of the castle.
The Wasserschlössle lies above the Wiehre district in the Sternwald. This building is not a real castle despite its name. It is simply built around a water tank. The tank holds 3,800 cubic meters. It is located on a hillside. It is about 30 meters above the city center. This provides the pressure to deliver drinking water to Freiburg’s households.
The city of Freiburg decided to decorate it with an ornate facade. It expresses its high esteem for drinking water. The facility was built between 1895 and 1896. The castle-like facade is made of sandstone blocks and concrete stone.
The eastern city was centrally supplied with water via the Wasserschlössle for more than 100 years. The population increase towards the end of the 19th century led to the construction of a waterworks near Ebnet from 1872 to 1876. From the higher-lying Ebnet waterworks, the water flows through a natural gradient to the Wasserschlössle. There it passes through an antechamber into the water chamber. This is the actual water reservoir. It has a capacity of 3,800 cubic meters. It is 45 meters long, 33 meters deep and 6 meters high. The water flows to the households of the city without pumping. This is again thanks to the natural gradient.
Denser construction led to a higher population. This caused corresponding higher water consumption. It led to problems with the water supply. This was especially true in the Wiehre district. The water pressure was no longer sufficient. A new high-level tank was built in 2001. It was only with the comprehensive installation of water meters that the water consumption of the Freiburg population decreased noticeably. The location of the extension is 600 meters from the Wasserschlössle. It is 42 meters higher. The new container is 42 meters long, 27 meters deep and 8 meters high. It holds 6,000 cubic meters.
You can also find the Wasserschlössle down in the city. It adorns all the manhole covers in the old town. It also appears on the chain of office of the mayor.
Every two years, the regional electricity and water supplier opens the gates at the Wasserschlössle festival. This allows a glimpse behind the scenes. However, the climb is also worthwhile without a classic tour of the castle. At the top, you have a wonderful view of the old town and the Freiburg cathedral. Unlike the Schlossberg, you can sometimes enjoy this view all by yourself.