As early as 1206, a chapel was built on the site of today’s Fribourg Church of St. Martin. This was expanded into a monastery complex by the Franciscans in the course of the 13th century. According to legend, gunpowder was invented here in the 14th century by the monk Berthold Schwarz. The name of the friar is said to have served as a model for the name Schwarzpulver. A monument on the town hall square commemorates the monk. The church of St. Martin was used as the parish church of the municipality from 1783. In November 1944 it was largely destroyed in an air raid. After extensive repairs, the church was consecrated in 1951.
