Freiburg's streams are medieval gutters that have become recreational attractions in the city. The German city of Freiburg on the outskirts of the Black Forest has a curious feature - small streams of clear clear water flowing through the city on open canals in the sidewalk. On a hot day, people often congregate around these streams, immersing their feet in cold water. Children love to splash in shallow water - they jump, run, launch paper boats and have fun. According to legend, if a passer-by accidentally steps into one of the streams, then he is destined to marry / marry a Freiburg.
The city's unusual drainage system, known as Bachle, was once used to bring water from the Dreisam River to the city to feed livestock and fight fires. Bahle was first documented in 1220, but archaeological excavations suggest that they existed at least a century ago, up until the time Freiburg was founded.
The construction of artificial reservoirs seemed natural as the early city was conveniently built on a slope. But as the city expanded and it became difficult for water to reach new parts of the city, the old city was raised three meters so that a stream system could be erected. The water was not meant for drinking, but only for feeding livestock and irrigated fields after it passed through the city. They also functioned as gutters, carrying all the dirt from the streets.
One of the most unflattering descriptions of Bahle comes from the scholar Erasmus of Rotterdam in the 16th century. In a letter to Dutch politician Gaspar Setz, Erasmus wrote:
“There are colossal sewage in all the streets, going along an artificial stream. This applies to the bloody waste of butchers, the stench of all kitchens, the dirt of all houses, vomit, urine, and even the feces of those houses where there are no toilets. Pots are poured here, beer mugs and cooking pots are cleaned."
Originally streams ran down the middle of the road, which can still be seen today on Market Street. But with the growth of population and traffic, the bahle became uncomfortable, and in the middle of the 19th century were moved to the edge of the road. Most of them were covered with wooden or iron slabs, or surrounded by stone gutters or pipes. Surprisingly, today Freiburg is one of the cleanest cities in the world.
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Water courses flowing through cities were widespread in other places as well. The 15th century Italian traveler Antonio de Beatis wrote of Innsbruck that the streets were "wide and had many water channels and fountains." In German Goslar, the Goz River had already been redirected through the city by 1200 and supplied the population with drinking water. Many German cities, besides Freiburg, have watercourses, although the most famous are the Freiburg Bahle.
Water courses flowing through cities were widespread in other places as well. The 15th century Italian traveler Antonio de Beatis wrote of Innsbruck that the streets were "wide and had many water channels and fountains." In German Goslar, the Goz River had already been redirected through the city by 1200 and supplied the population with drinking water. Many German cities, besides Freiburg, have watercourses, although the most famous are the Freiburg Bahle.