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Alte Münsterbauhütte - Münsterladen (old cathedral workshop - cathedral shop)
The Alte Münsterbauhütte was the workplace of the highly respected master builders and stonemasons of the Freiburg landmark, who were responsible for the maintenance of the cathedral after its construction.
The building in Herrenstraße, just behind the cathedral choir, is the only surviving half-timbered house from the late Middle Ages. It was first mentioned in 1565 and functioned as a permanent workshop for stonemasons after the cathedral choir was completed. In the Middle Ages, the term "Bauhütte" referred to the organization of all the builders involved in the construction of the cathedral. It was the core of the "cathedral factory", which from the end of the 13th century realized the construction of the Freiburg parish church under the direction of the city. The half-timbered storey was added later around 1600 and initially served as a dwelling for the foreman and later for the two tower keepers, who had to watch out for approaching enemies or fire in shifts. Stonemasons continued to work in this historic building until 1956, but most of the construction work was moved to the new Münsterbauhütte in Schoferstraße in 1911. Today there is a small store in the old Münsterbauhütte where you can buy tasteful souvenirs and book guided tours of the Münsterbauhütte. By the way: every purchase in the Münster store benefits the preservation of the cathedral! Our tip: Since the 14th century, Freiburg residents and cathedral enthusiasts have cherished and cared for the Gothic masterpiece in order to make it accessible to future generations. In the windows of the cathedral you can see which guilds donated to the installation of the stained glass. Take a look around and discover the pretzel of the bakers' guild or the boot as a symbol for the shoemakers.
