Discover fascinating stories about women in Freiburg. As far back as 255 years ago, Marie-Antoinette—then just 14 years old—stayed overnight in the city during her wedding journey. As the future Queen of France, she was a prominent visitor. But many women from Freiburg have also shaped the city and left their mark on their era. This guided tour highlights strong personalities who have often been forgotten. Meet female entrepreneurs who were persecuted as witches. Learn more about Johanna Kappes, the first female student at a German university. Discover the legacy of Gertrud Luckner, who—as a pacifist and ambassador of humanity—was voted Freiburg’s most significant figure in 2007.
The journey of discovery begins at the Schwabentor. From here, you’ll follow in the footsteps of courageous and often misunderstood women through Freiburg’s history. To start, you’ll receive a brief overview of the city’s history. The Schwabentor, one of the last remaining medieval city gates, brings the past to life.
At Augustinerplatz, you’ll discover the importance that the church and monastery once held for the education of young women. At the Haus zum Unteren Pflug—now known as Bettenhaus Stiegeler—you’ll learn how Katharina Egg, the daughter of a mayor, made a lasting contribution to Freiburg’s history by founding a hospital for the poor. The “Frauen Gestalten Freiburg” city tour also commemorates Edith Stein. She was a Carmelite nun of Jewish descent who earned a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Freiburg and devoted many years to the Catholic Church. Nevertheless, she fell victim to the Nazis. To this day, she is regarded as a martyr and saint in the Archdiocese of Freiburg.
You’ll walk through Fischerau and reach Adelhauser Kirchplatz. Away from the bustling city center, you’ll learn about the remarkable life of Gertrud Luckner. She often attended early Mass at the Adelhauser Church. Between 1933 and 1945, she helped hundreds of politically persecuted people escape. Places like this likely offered her the opportunity to meet with supporters and make plans.
Our next stop is the Martinstor. It is one of the two surviving city gates in Freiburg and has a turbulent history. In the past, the Martinstor also served as a prison. Here, we’ll shed light on a particularly dark chapter in the city’s history: the witch hunts of the 16th and 17th centuries. At that time, it was primarily women who were in danger—women who did not conform to societal expectations and led self-determined lives.
We continue on our way, following Kaiser-Joseph-Straße past the Bertoldsbrunnen, where we briefly reflect on Marie Antoinette’s impressive wedding procession, on to Rathausplatz.
The “Women Shape Freiburg” city tour concludes with the fascinating story of Johanna Kappes, the first female student at a German university. You’ll experience this special moment right in front of the Old and New City Halls. The New City Hall was once the first university building in Freiburg.
Schwabentor (Google Maps)
Professional tour guides will lead you through Freiburg’s Old Town, following in the footsteps of courageous women—some world-famous, others less well-known. You’ll meet your tour guide at the Schwabentor and set off from there on
