Freiburg-Betzenhausen: The modern neighborhood
On our last day in Freiburg, we still had a few outstanding items, and a most unexpected gem.
First, we decided to drive out to the country, to the Mundenhof, a perfect place for a family gathering. The Mundenhof is everything you would expect from a big farm, or even a little town cut out from Little House on the Prairie. There are huge barns, vast meadows, and even a little church for good measure. There is a nice, reasonably priced restaurant for lunch. There's a gift shop that also sells some of the locally made delicacies, among them their apple juice and their prize-winning ice cream.
The only thing I haven't mentioned yet is the animals. No worries, there are plenty of horses and cows, although these don't seem to be accessible to the public. On the other hand, bisons, llamas, and camels are abundant and graze at will. There are smaller exhibits for meerkats (even in the Black Forest region of Germany) and monkeys, plus an aviary. Of course there is a huge playground, just to make it worthwhile for the kids. There's a parking fee of five euros, admission is free, donations are welcome. A great option for families who enjoy country life.
From the Mundenhof, we still have a date with the Japanese Garden in the neighborhood of Betzenhausen. This was on Liebi's wishlist, particularly because Liebi has always harbored ambitions to create a Japanese garden of her own. This one doesn't disappoint. It's as good as an original, which it literally is, since it was gifted to Freiburg by one of its sister cities, Japan's own Matsuyama. It's amazing what people can do with just an acre of land.
But this isn't what catches my attention. The surrounding neighborhood of Betzenhausen clearly is. Betzenhausen itself surrounds a small lake, the Flückigersee. Around the lake is a bowling alley, a swimming pool, minigolf, and the aforementioned Japanese Garden. There are miles and miles of walking trails, punctuated by an observation tower in the near distance. There are barely any cars that have access to the public area, so you can stroll around at your leisure.
Next, you'll be thinking: right, we also have a name for that where we come from: Geneva, Monte Carlo, Beverley Hills, or name your luxury resort of choice here. Not so in Freiburg-Betzenhausen. There are single family homes, there are even a few highrises, there are social (subsidized) apartments. Everybody is welcome, you couldn't plan a community any better. And of course you can reach the place by the number 1 tram line. Tasteful and convenient. And to think Betzenhausen used to be a village.
That, to me, seems like the model for a modern neighborhood. Centered around a public space with plenty of green space, easy access, hardly any vehicles. Get out of the car, get into the paddle boats. Environment and civilization. Betzenhausen says you can have both.
First, we decided to drive out to the country, to the Mundenhof, a perfect place for a family gathering. The Mundenhof is everything you would expect from a big farm, or even a little town cut out from Little House on the Prairie. There are huge barns, vast meadows, and even a little church for good measure. There is a nice, reasonably priced restaurant for lunch. There's a gift shop that also sells some of the locally made delicacies, among them their apple juice and their prize-winning ice cream.
The only thing I haven't mentioned yet is the animals. No worries, there are plenty of horses and cows, although these don't seem to be accessible to the public. On the other hand, bisons, llamas, and camels are abundant and graze at will. There are smaller exhibits for meerkats (even in the Black Forest region of Germany) and monkeys, plus an aviary. Of course there is a huge playground, just to make it worthwhile for the kids. There's a parking fee of five euros, admission is free, donations are welcome. A great option for families who enjoy country life.
From the Mundenhof, we still have a date with the Japanese Garden in the neighborhood of Betzenhausen. This was on Liebi's wishlist, particularly because Liebi has always harbored ambitions to create a Japanese garden of her own. This one doesn't disappoint. It's as good as an original, which it literally is, since it was gifted to Freiburg by one of its sister cities, Japan's own Matsuyama. It's amazing what people can do with just an acre of land.
But this isn't what catches my attention. The surrounding neighborhood of Betzenhausen clearly is. Betzenhausen itself surrounds a small lake, the Flückigersee. Around the lake is a bowling alley, a swimming pool, minigolf, and the aforementioned Japanese Garden. There are miles and miles of walking trails, punctuated by an observation tower in the near distance. There are barely any cars that have access to the public area, so you can stroll around at your leisure.
Next, you'll be thinking: right, we also have a name for that where we come from: Geneva, Monte Carlo, Beverley Hills, or name your luxury resort of choice here. Not so in Freiburg-Betzenhausen. There are single family homes, there are even a few highrises, there are social (subsidized) apartments. Everybody is welcome, you couldn't plan a community any better. And of course you can reach the place by the number 1 tram line. Tasteful and convenient. And to think Betzenhausen used to be a village.
That, to me, seems like the model for a modern neighborhood. Centered around a public space with plenty of green space, easy access, hardly any vehicles. Get out of the car, get into the paddle boats. Environment and civilization. Betzenhausen says you can have both.
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