Vauban City Tour – Freiburg is a pioneer in environmentally conscious urban planning. The city places great emphasis on ecological and sustainable construction. The Vauban district is the best example of this. In the 1990s, a citizens’ initiative gave rise to a modern residential district here. It combines innovative environmental policies with social and transportation-related approaches. On our Vauban city tour, you’ll discover the special features of this unique Freiburg neighborhood and experience its many facets.
When the French armed forces finally withdrew in 1991, the 41-hectare barracks complex in the southern part of the city initially stood empty, before the Vauban project was spearheaded by committed residents beginning in the mid-1990s. Citizen participation and civic responsibility were fundamental to shaping community life in this “Green City” from the very beginning. It was the citizens themselves who came up with proposals on how new urban planning concepts—such as reducing car traffic and creating a neighborhood of short distances—should be implemented. On our Vauban city tour, you’ll learn not only about the neighborhood’s successful ventilation system but also about the clever use of renewable energy through the combined heat and power plant and the solar housing complex. The world’s first energy-plus house, known as the Heliotrop, is also located just outside the Vauban neighborhood.
The high quality of life for the district’s more than 5,000 residents is ensured not only by the diverse approaches to living and working in the neighborhood and the many local shopping options, but also the thoughtful design of the so-called “green corridors,” the preservation of mature trees, and the mandatory green roofs—all of which ensure that nature has its place in the neighborhood and justify its nickname, “Green City.” Our themed Vauban city tour will introduce you to the complex topic of sustainable neighborhoods in an entertaining way!
Please note: This neighborhood is a residential area, and trespassing on private property is not permitted. Likewise, the tour guides on the Vauban city tour naturally take the residents’ feelings into consideration.
Paula-Modersohn-Platz (Google Maps)
Professional tour guides provide knowledgeable and entertaining explanations of the sustainable Vauban neighborhood in Freiburg im Breisgau. Named after the famous 17th-century fortress builder Vauban, the name is now synonymous in Freiburg with sustainable construction and living.
