30 October 2024

The Friz in Freiburg or how did the canoe get into the barn?

Freiburg, the lively student city in Breisgau, impresses with its car-free city center, lots of greenery and an exciting cultural and gastronomic scene. In the local Friz Bed & Breakfast our author Geraldine got a lot of inspiration and new ideas.

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

Freiburg-Gundelfingen is just a few minutes by train from the city center - and in the middle of it all is a converted, listed barn from the 1840s. From the street, you first see the inviting vintage shop with beautifully curated finds - here you will find design classics, industrial lamps, historical toys and exciting art. The eye doesn't know where to look first. It's like a toy shop for adults. Trees, flowers and bushes grow along the approximately forty-meter-long barn building in an idyllic garden that invites guests to linger.

Grandpa's barn with a new spirit - a childhood dream comes true

Host Melanie Thoma welcomes me with a beaming smile and we immediately start talking. She takes a lot of time to answer my most pressing question. How did it all start with the Friz actually?

Even as a child, Melanie romped around in her grandparents' barn and dreamed of what could be done with this place - even the idea of a hotel was already in her head. Years later, she got the chance to awaken Grandpa Friz's barn - hence the name - from a long slumber. Melanie and her Dutch husband, Ron, had already had their first experiences as hosts in Basel and, as communicative people, really enjoyed contact with guests. For Ron, as a cosmopolitan, this offered the opportunity to invite the world into his home.

Of course, the renovation was a huge project, but the vision was clear: something very special was to be created here. And so, with the help of talented construction managers, the old barn was transformed into an architectural jewel - a place that harmoniously combines family history, modern design and great warmth.

The old threshing floor where my holiday apartment is located (Friz 5), has ceilings that are around five meters high, as this is where the hay used to be stored. The wonderfully comfortable bed is slightly raised so that you can look out into the garden through the large windows and feel instantly at home.

The raw exposed concrete walls correspond with the old wooden beams, the exposed natural stone walls and the incredibly modern and eclectic interior design style. In "my" loft, a historic wooden canoe from England, complete with paddle, hangs on the wall - as if it were the most normal thing in the world. Melanie was anything but sure at first when Ron announced that he had bought a canoe as decoration. But Ron, as always, had an unmistakable instinct: the canoe would fit perfectly into the design - and that is exactly what it does, contributing to the unique character of the Friz at.

Each of the eight holiday apartments is an oasis of peace and is individually and high-quality furnished with modern bathrooms and kitchens. Of course there is good tea, fresh water, lots of spices and compostable coffee capsules for the guests as basic equipment. There are also a few bakeries and supermarkets, an organic shop and two restaurants on site for a pleasant self-catering holiday.

Foodies welcome!

If you want to cook in the cozy kitchen, the cookbook provides Black Forest reloaded IV great vegetarian recipes. The book was created entirely in Friz. The delicious recipes were all cooked and photographed on site.

I get to know Ron personally as he is preparing a deliciously fragrant lentil dal for tomorrow's seminar guests - one of his signature dishes. Ron is not a trained chef and Melanie does not come from the hotel industry. But they both have a lot of experience with large projects; Ron designed large trade fairs and Melanie worked for a long time at Vitra as a project manager. And while Ron has lived in London and Singapore, Melanie has roots in the region. This extraordinary mix is reflected in the Friz They are a unique team and excellent hosts because they are authentic and love what they do. And their humorous and open way of dealing with things is certainly one of the secrets of their success.

Before the conversion, they had of course sought advice from professionals, but also taught themselves a lot and drew on their own travel experiences. Friz worked well as accommodation, as a successful symbiosis between urban ambience and natural surroundings was still missing in the region. The many satisfied and returning guests since the opening in 2017 confirm this.

The accommodation is suitable for creative people, families and nature lovers alike. Children can play in the garden and beautiful cycling and hiking trails start on the doorstep. Excursions to the Kaiserstuhl, the Black Forest, Basel or France are possible.

A new creative space for everyone

Since Melanie and Ron are always full of ideas, this year there is an exciting addition to the existing holiday apartments. An energy-efficient new building that can be used as a light-flooded conference room. The ideal setting for seminars, workshops, photo shoots and team events for up to fifteen people. The so-called Art Apartment (Friz 8) impresses with an open kitchen including a long dining table, a high room with a recessed gallery and a cozy reading corner as a retreat. Two bedrooms and two bathrooms provide additional comfort, while the sunny terrace offers plenty of space for new ideas.

The seminar room is well equipped with whiteboards, moderation material and a large screen for presentations. Here you can meet and brainstorm together in a relaxed atmosphere. The ambience is a successful mix of a professional setting and a cozy shared kitchen. Speaking of which, if required, there is a small catering service with delicious drinks, fruit, fresh pretzels, homemade cakes and Ron's favorite dishes that he discovered on his travels.

Delicious coffee and design objects "to go"

The new building, like the whole house, is also an exhibition space. Everything that is here can be bought. Looking at the picture of a hippopotamus with painted toenails, the scenery is amusing. Ron got it from an artist friend. This picture fills the wall and fits incredibly well in the room. But Ron is not worried about finding an adequate replacement if someone buys it. His passion for collecting has accompanied him since his youth and he regularly surfs his favorite interior design websites and always finds something extraordinary. On Saturdays, the shop is also open to interested parties and there is delicious coffee from the equally iconic Faema E61 Maschine.

Often, especially the guests cannot resist and take a piece Friz home with me. And I also find myself eyeing one or two of the finds. Be it the framed roll-up posters of English buses, the expressive photographs or the patinated toys - each with its own story. These special pieces would not only remind you of this wonderful place at home, but also of looking at things differently.

I'm already planning my next visit before I leave so I can explore the surrounding area even more. First of all, I'd like to thank Melanie, Ron, their daughter Izzy and cat Mimi for the incredibly beautiful accommodation, plenty of inspiration and warm hospitality. I've rarely returned from a trip feeling so full of "just do it".

Tips for a sustainable city trip to Freiburg

The many cycle paths and green areas, the river Dreisam and the so-called Bächles – small water channels that have run through the city since the Middle Ages – ensure the high quality of life in Freiburg. Green city Freiburg is also known for its ecological orientation, which has been something of a city-wide consensus since the 1970s.

In the district Vauban it is even a little greener. The facades of the low-energy houses are covered in vegetation, organic shops, colorful playgrounds, lots of bicycles and solar panels make Vauban a showcase for sustainable urban development. In the restaurant south tourists and residents sit comfortably together.
The relatively new Café Alma on the edge of the pretty Wiehre-Viertel focuses on homemade and vegetarian food. Not far from Johannesplatz there is a nice shop for fair organic coffee called Elephant Beans.
Particularly pretty is the curved Konviktstraße in Freiburg Old town with its narrow townhouses and green facades. There are beautiful boutiques and galleries here. In the tiny Strass Café There is vintage jewelry, excellent coffee and cheesecake.
The Sedanviertel behind the university library is located directly on the famous Wiwili bicycle bridge – over which up to 8000 bicycles roll every day. There are several cafes here, a good unpackaged store and yoga studios.
The Trotte Weinbar in Little Venice with the extremely attractive menu was fully booked - so make sure you reserve in advance. The beautiful city in the border triangle is always well attended!