Running Water Through the City: The Bächle of Freiburg im Breisgau

Freiburg im Breisgau's charming 'Bächle,' small water channels running through its historic old town, are more than just a picturesque feature; they represent a remarkable medieval engineering accomplishment and are deeply woven into the city's identity. These channels, extending over nine kilometers above ground and approximately six kilometers underground, have been a constant companion for walkers for centuries.

Despite a past attempt by the German Automobile Club (ADAC) in 1952 to have them removed, deeming them traffic obstacles in an increasingly car-centric city, the Bächle have endured. Today, their preservation is the responsibility of specialized city employees known as 'Bächleputzer.' Alain Stockmayr, one of these caretakers, spends his days ensuring the channels are clean and functional. Equipped with a steel broom and a long hook, he demonstrates the process of cleaning the channel walls and managing the underground sluice gates.

"Every day, flushing is required at various points," Stockmayr explains, detailing how Bächle water is diverted into the sewer system to make way for cleaning. This process reveals and removes litter, primarily paper and bottles, though Stockmayr notes that the majority of Freiburg's residents respect the Bächle. These caretakers are also on call for emergencies, such as when a channel overflows, particularly during autumn when fallen leaves pose a challenge.

The origins of this unique urban water system, the only one of its kind completely preserved in Germany, date back to the mid-13th century. As Freiburg was not founded directly on the Dreisam river, water had to be channeled into the city. The topography facilitated this, with the old town lying lower than the area near the Dreisam. The Bächle supplied households and businesses with essential water for daily use and even for livestock, officially classified as 'clean water' rather than wastewater, a distinction sometimes overlooked, as noted by Erasmus of Rotterdam in 1534.