Why is Freiburg Cathedral at the top of the list of must-see attractions in Freiburg and a favorite with locals? Perhaps the reason is that it took more than 300 years to build it, as its planning required an astonishing dimension through the generations; Most builders have never seen the final product. They simply had to trust that the cathedral would be completed as they imagined. But it may also be due to its 116-meter-high western tower, which art historian Jacob Burckhardt described in 1869 as "the most beautiful spire on earth".