The monument is named after the Zähringen dukes, multiple of whom held the name Bertold.
The bronze figure represents the Zähringer dynasty's historical influence over the Breisgau region.
The current 1965 fountain replaced an earlier neo-Gothic structure that was destroyed during World War II.
It sits at the exact convergence point of the main north-south and east-west pedestrian axes of the city.
The fountain design was selected following a competition held in the early 1960s to modernize the city center.
The monument acts as a visual anchor in a space heavily dominated by the city's complex tram intersection.
Bertoldsbrunnen is the central junction of Freiburg im Breisgau, marking the historical intersection of Kaiser-Joseph-Straße and Salzstraße. The current bronze monument, created by artist Joachim Berthold in 1965, features a column topped with a stylized mounted knight. The monument commemorates the Dukes of Zähringen, the city's founders, whose dynasty ruled the region until 1218. It stands directly over the path of the city's iconic Bächle, the narrow water-filled runnels that line the streets of the old town. This site serves as the primary meeting point for locals and is the central hub for the city's tram network. Below the surface, the area integrates complex subterranean infrastructure for the light rail system. The fountain is an abstract interpretation of medieval chivalry rather than a traditional decorative basin. It remains the geographical and social heart of the historic Freiburg district.
From the corner near the entrance to the department stores, looking toward the monument with the old town buildings in the background.
Visit during the early morning to photograph the monument without the heavy midday pedestrian crowds.
Watch your step while walking nearby, as the street-level Bächle runnels can easily catch a shoe heel or stroller wheel.
Use this location as your primary navigation reference, as nearly all central streets radiate from this point.
Do not attempt to walk across the tram tracks while distracted, as traffic is constant and comes from multiple directions.
