Freiburg is idyllically situated between the Kaiserstuhl region and the Rhineland Plains to the west and the valleys and mountains of the Black Forest to the east. There are also plenty of green oases in the town itself – glorious gardens and parks, Schlossberg hill (fabulous views), the carefully tended municipal gardens, the botanical gardens and the Mooswald forest with its thermal mineral baths.Schlossberg
Schlossberg hill in the middle of Freiburg was used as a fortress by the conquering French forces between 1677 and 1744. Today, it is a very popular destination for outings with wonderful views over the town and the Dreisamtal valley.Botanical Gardens
The university's botanical gardens are expertly managed. They are mainly used today for teaching and research purposes and for the conservation of rare plants, although the interesting and broad range of plant varieties is also open to the public for viewing.Mooswald Forest
To the west of the town on the former gravel beds of the Dreisam, a small Black Forest river, is a mixed deciduous forest with lots of oak trees, known as Mooswald forest. The Freiburg Mooswald is one of the largest areas of contiguous woodland on the Upper Rhine plain. Because of its importance for the climate and for biodiversity, it is often referred to as "Baden-Württemberg's tropical forest".