Guilds are often surrounded with mysticism and fantasy. This is most likely due to their incorporation with popular movies and video games; however, the Guilds of Germany during the medieval era were all but romanticized.

Originally there were two major types of guilds: merchant guilds and craft guilds. The merchants guilds were typically suppliers of accommodates such as  minerals, meat or grain. The craft guilds were the creators of their time, the blacksmiths, woodcutters, gem-cutters, and essentially anyone with an ability to create something from some ingredients. In some parts of Europe during the middle ages there were even guilds of chefs, which eventually separated into different specialties as we know them today as: confectioners, bakers, etc. The both guilds gained a foot hold in society by banding together as the main workers of their time. These were the people bringing and creating the town’s goods, and even they recognized their power enough to usually monopolize the market with their products. In fact, much of the early guild markets showed signs of being a sort of capitalist economy within the town.

One of the oldest buildings in Freiburg was a former guild house.

The guilds usually operated under a veil of secrecy for their crafts. If one wanted to become a member of the guild they would first had to go through a schooling period as an apprentice. After their schooling they would be coupled with a master craftsman and begin their journey through the ranks. These journeymen often came out of apprenticeship only knowing the very basic techniques of the craft and were not taught anymore until the entire guild approved of them learning. In order for a journeyman to become a master craftsman he had to get the approval of all of the guild’s masters, donate a sum of money to the guild and then present a “masterpiece” which demonstrated all of his skill that he could contribute to the guild. Most of the guilds kept the masterpieces as a token of their acceptance of the journeyman’s promotion to master.

The guilds were even involved in the creation of the Freiburger Münster, the guild seals can be seen in the inside stain glass.

Freiburg had a very influential guild presence during medieval times. Most parts of the city were run by guilds. The guilds would also demand to be payed a tariff for their service to the city, and as a result became very wealthy. With their wealth the guilds were involved in various constructions projects for their own promotion and protection. Some of the buildings in Freiburg were built as a guild house and various others were build for a guild’s family. Much like how fraternities operate today, guilds looked after all of their members. By 1389 the guilds have even become more powerful than the patricians in Freiburg.

A mosaic in Freiburg representing the baker’s guild, today used as a marker for a bakery.

Another mosiac depicting a barber. During medieval times barbers were typically the “lower-class” physicians and surgeons.

Around Freiburg  you can find many mosaic pieces of artwork imprinted into the pedestrians zones. These are in very close resemblance to the old guild signs master craftsmen would post onto their buildings to denote their skill and membership to the guild. The idea being that once people saw these signs they would instantly know the product they would buy from there would be premium quality and most likely the best price they will find in the city!