Freiburger Bächle

These oblong, cut, stone-segmented canals carried water from the River Dresam through the Altach, German for "Old Town", for centuries. Aqueducts have been in existence since at least 1250, but it is believed that they may be even older, existing during the mid-12th century. The first mention of these unique little aqueducts comes from a written line from around 1220, in which Count Egon I of Freiburg gave permission to the abbey to use a field irrigated by the aqueduct. It is believed that the Freiburg Paschal was not only used to bring water to the city, but also helped water animals and fight fires.