FASCINATION AND TRAGEDY

A mighty fortress once stretched across the entire Schlossberg. But why was the Schlossberg of such great interest? Geographically, the Dreisamtal formed an important access to the Upper Black Forest and to the adjoining Austrian territories to the east. The Schlossberg was therefore an important point of control over the area and a significant symbol of power. As early as around 1091, the Dukes of Zähringen built their residence above today's Kanonenplatz, called "Burghaldenschloss". This gave the mountain its name: Schlossberg.

A leap in time to the 17th and 18th centuries: In the aftermath of the 30 Years' War, the then Habsburg city and the Schlossberg were occupied by troops of King Louis XIV of France in 1677 and expanded into a modern fortress according to the plans of his famous master builder Vauban. Freiburg returned to Austria in 1697, but was again besieged and conquered by the French in 1713 and 1744. Before the final withdrawal of the French troops in 1745, they blew up the complex as planned.

"Thou happy Austria, marry!" The peace concluded between France and Austria in 1752 was sealed in 1770 by the marriage of the Emperor's daughter Marie-Antoinette to the French Crown Prince Louis. The bride was enthusiastically celebrated as she passed through Freiburg: At last the threat of war was over.

Did you know?
... that the Kanonenplatz was originally part of the Burghaldenschloss (Ludwigshöhe since 1820) above? The platform was built during the construction of the fortress towards the end of the 30 Years' War. Vauban incorporated the "Kanonenplatz" into the bastions of the lower castle. Decades after the destruction of the fortress in 1744/1745, the Kanonenplatz became the popular viewing platform we know today. Its name is still a reminder of the Schlossberg's martial past.

Portrait of Louis XIV by Hyacinthe Rigaud from 1701.

Marie-Antoinette, probably in 1769 shortly before her wedding, after Franz Xaver Wagenschön.