The Freiburg “Bächle” are one of the city’s biggest landmarks in Breisgau. They are a world-famous tourist attraction that only exists in this form in Freiburg. It is undisputed: the Freiburger Bächle belong to Freiburg like the cathedral and the Black Forest; no city tour or travel guide can do without them.

The Freiburg Bächle as a historical irrigation and drainage system - an innovation from and in the Middle Ages - is the workplace of Alain, our real “Bächlereiniger”, who is affectionately called “Stocky” by the people of Freiburg. As a stream cleaner, he keeps an eye on the many watercourses from the Middle Ages that run through the historic centre of the Black Forest metropolis in Baden. The small canals are called “Bächle” in the Alemannic dialect – and Alemannic is also Stocky’s native language.

He gives exclusive insights behind the scenes of the Bächle system and into what is probably the oldest profession in the city in Breisgau, that of the Bächle cleaner.