"Don’t Step into the Bächle" Freiburg im Breisgau Tourist Trap Tip by Kathrin_E

These are traps in the literal sense of the word. Watch your steps in old Freiburg’s street. The open waterflows in the streets are sort of Freiburg’s trademark. Many streets have them. They are not deep and the water is no danger but stumbling over the edges can cause serious injuries. They are not protected, people are expected to watch out for them.

Legend tells that if you stumble into a Bächle you will stay in Freiburg forever and marry a local. Well, Freiburg is not a bad place to live, so think about it… It won’t work if you do it on purpose, though!

The waterflows are kept very clean. Bächleputzer is a unique local profession. The cleaners have even inspired a carnival guild to create a Bächleputzer as their costume.