Breisach
A small Rhine town on a hill, known for its Gothic minster and the wine villages of the Kaiserstuhl, across the river from Alsace.
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Breisach am Rhein is a small town in Baden-Württemberg, in southwest Germany, on a hill above the Rhine. The French border follows the river here, and Neuf-Brisach, in Alsace, lies on the opposite bank. The town's landmark is the Gothic Minster of St. Stephan on the hill, visible across the flat river plain. East of town, the Kaiserstuhl rises as a group of volcanic hills covered in vineyards and wine villages.
Go for the minster, the wine villages and cycling on quiet roads. Freiburg is a regional train ride away, so a day trip works. Spring and early autumn suit walking and cycling best, and the autumn grape harvest shows the vineyards at work. Plan one full day for the town and minster, or two or three days to add the wine villages and a ride through the hills, with a night in a winery village for calm mornings and evenings among the vines.
Breisach in five
- Climb the Münsterberg for the minster and the RhineSt. Stephansmünster stands on a hill above the old town and holds a late-medieval Last Judgment fresco by Martin Schongauer. Check the minster's opening hours, since services can limit visits.
- Use Freiburg as the rail baseA regional train links Freiburg and Breisach in about 25 to 30 minutes, so you can stay in the larger city and visit here for the afternoon. Check evening trains before you plan a wine dinner.Freiburg travel guide
- Cycle or drive the Kaiserstuhl wine villagesThe volcanic Kaiserstuhl hills produce Pinot Noir and other reds, and signed bike routes link the villages. Winery tasting hours vary, so check each estate before you plan a stop, and never drive after a tasting.
- Cross the Rhine into AlsaceNeuf-Brisach, a UNESCO-listed Vauban fortress town, is a short ride across the river, and Colmar is a longer excursion. Check current bus and cross-border service before you plan the day.Colmar travel guide
- Book a winery stay for harvest weeksSeptember and October bring the grape harvest and busier villages. Rooms at small estates fill early, so reserve before you plan a slow stay around the hills.
Things to do in Breisach
See all attractions in Breisach
Need to know
- Airport
- Basel-Mulhouse (BSL) or Strasbourg (SXB), each about 1–1.5 hours
- Getting there
- Regional train from Freiburg about 25–30 minutes
- Getting around
- On foot in town; bike or car for the Kaiserstuhl; local buses
- Best base
- Freiburg for city evenings; a winery village for a slow stay
- Time needed
- Half a day; 1–2 nights for the wine hills
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryCold, foggy
- FebruaryCool, quiet
- MarchMild, showers
- AprilAlmond blossom
- MayWarm, vines green
- JuneWarm, open air
- JulyHot, busy
- AugustHot, busy
- SeptemberWine harvest
- OctoberAutumn color
- NovemberDamp, quiet
- DecemberChristmas market
Right now in Breisach
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
7
- Feels like
- 5°
- Humidity
- 70%
- Wind
- 9 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Breisach
09:46 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today8°0°0%Monday: Fog. High 8°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue8°3°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed10°4°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu11°2°0%Thursday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri8°2°11%Friday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 11%.
- Sat12°3°15%Saturday: Fog. High 12°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 15%.
- Sun11°2°23%Sunday: Rain. High 11°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 23%.
Updated 07:30 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- Jul–AugZelt-Musik-FestivalFreiburg, a day trip
- JulRossini in WildbadBlack Forest, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Freiburgabout 25–30 minutes by regional trainA Gothic minster and a market square at the edge of the Black Forest.Read the guide
- Colmarabout 30–45 minutes by bus or carAlsace's canal quarter and pastel houses, across the Rhine.Read the guide
- Baden-Badenabout 1.5 hours by train via FreiburgA spa town for a long day or an overnight.Read the guide
Before you go to Breisach
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Rules for Breisach, checked
- Schengen 90/180-day rule: non-EU visitors may stay 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen Area, including Germany. Count your days before a long stay.
- EU Entry/Exit System: non-EU visitors have passport details and fingerprints recorded at external Schengen borders. Check the current status on the EU travel site.Source
- Germany runs temporary checks at land borders, including with France. Carry your passport or ID card and check the current status with the Federal Police.
- Dial 112 for police, ambulance or fire in Germany. It is the same number across the EU, so save it in your phone before you arrive.
Plan around Breisach
The student city and Black Forest gateway nearby
Read the guideColmar travel guideAlsace's pastel wine town on the French side
Read the guideBlack Forest travel guideTrails and villages east of the Rhine plain
Read the guideBaden-Baden travel guideA spa town reachable by train along the Rhine
Read the guideThe Schengen 90/180 ruleHopping the Rhine counts against one allowance
Read the guideAll of GermanyRegions, trains and entry rules for a Germany trip
Read the guideBreisach FAQ
Is Breisach worth visiting?
Yes, for the minster, the Rhine setting and wine hills close by. The town is small, so treat it as a half-day stop rather than a trip of its own, unless you plan to taste and cycle.
How do you get to Breisach from Freiburg?
By regional train in about 25 to 30 minutes, with frequent daytime service. Check late-evening departures before you plan dinner, and note that some trains run less often on weekends.
Can you visit Colmar from Breisach?
Yes, by a short cross-border bus or car trip of roughly 30 to 45 minutes. Service patterns change, so check current timetables and plan a margin for the return leg.
What is the Kaiserstuhl?
A volcanic hill range on the Rhine plain with warm, dry slopes known for red wine and fruit orchards. Villages and estates are linked by quiet roads and signed bike routes.
When is the best time to visit Breisach?
April for almond and fruit blossom, and September to October for the harvest. Summer is hot and busy, and winter brings fog and quiet evenings with fewer tastings.