Yesterday it was still a sleepy town, today, Instagram Hotspot. Photos of Freudenberg, half-timbered houses attract Westphalia visitors from all over the world to North Rhine-Westphalia. A Visit To The Site.
From the city centre to the viewing platform in the Park, a steep staircase leads. 120 steps later, I understand immediately why tourists from all over the world come up here. Here at the top of the “Old spots”, the old town of Freudenberg me to feet. In other words, under me 80 half-timbered houses from the 17th row in perfect harmony. Century, top-of-the gable close, and the roofs covered with snow. As an Illustration to a fairy tale by the brothers Grimm.
Freudenberg is a winter beauty, that’s for sure. The 18,000 – population town in North Rhine-Westphalia, located about an hour’s drive to the West of Cologne, in Germany’s siegerland region, surrounded by forest. Instagram photos have allowed Freudenberg to be a tourist Hotspot. If you enter the Hashtag #Freudenberg, approximately 11,000 Posts on the photo-Sharing platform.
Most of the residents of the historic old town feel of the tourists are not disturbed
And because so many people around the world to post under this Hashtag their images, to save the little place in front of tourists. “In the past six months, has multiplied the interest in the photos in the social media. With the popularity in the network, the number of visitors increase, we feel,” confirms mayor Nicole Reschke. “We are excited to see if this Trend continues”.
Most of the Fans come from Japan
Buses full of tourists come from the far East in the place. The buses will then Park at the foot of the staircase that leads to the lookout point. In addition to the panoramic views of Freudenberg, the guests also take photos from the Spa gardens, the Open-Air stage, the technology Museum and the Hiking trails all around.
On average, Freudenberg counts 30,000 overnight guests a year. Since the days of the tourists are not factored in. And just whose share has tremendously increased. How much visitors it really is difficult to capture, says Nicole Reschke, the most of bus tourists only stayed a couple hours and traveled.
2018 Freudenberg gave his first Flyer in Japanese language
“Since then, the Japanese television about us, it was reported, the proportion of Japanese tourists has increased in the last three to four years,” says Bärbel Bäumer from the tourist information office in Freudenberg, Germany. “I guess, Freudenberg is traveling in a group, in the meantime, as part of a program planned to be.”
The city has responded to the onslaught, flyers and city maps are now also available in Japanese language. And Freudenberg has special Souvenirs can think of, such, easily, and in the case of a long-haul flight well into the Luggage fit. The characteristic Black-and – White Grid of half-timbered houses now adorns hip pockets, key fobs, or decorative slates.
From above, the houses look almost the same, at eye level, one discovers the variance in the architecture
Looking to the future
Because now more and more visitors flock into the city and up to the Kurpark pilgrims, in order to make your photos, want to redevelop the city Park. Two million euros is to be invested. Among other things, a Café is planned, or at least a Kiosk next to the viewing platform. Disabled Parking spaces are to be created, so that people with disabilities can benefit from the Outlook. The steep staircase is being renovated – they should be flattened and to cope with this easier.
Nicole Reschke hopes that at some point a little self-brings-propelled electric bus guests from the city to the lookout point. “But this is still music of the future”, she adds.
Even before the Instagram Boom, it attracted tourists from abroad, according to Freudenberg, reported mayor Nicole Reschke
A Balancing Act
And how the inhabitants feel, given the crowds of tourists that push through your quiet little town? Particularly, it is between may and September.
“We’ll be fine. Most of the tourists are very nice,” says Bärbel Bäumer, who lives in one of the pretty half-timbered houses.
“If that is too much, you should better leave. Most of the inhabitants have no problems with the tourists,” adds Nicole Reschke.
“It will be a Central task to bring the needs of the tourism industry and of the 18,000 inhabitants under a hat,” stresses the mayor. “We must ensure that our town, now, because it is a tourist Hotspot, it becomes an Open-Air Museum – people live here in the first place. I think we are on the right path.”
Half-timbered houses