Freiburg (in full, Freiburg im Breisgau), city in southwestern Germany, in Baden-Württemberg, at the foot of Schlossberg Mountain, in the Breisgau Valley of the Dreisam River. Manufactures include machinery, scientific and musical instruments, chemicals, paper, and textiles. Tourism is important to Freiburg, the largest city in the Black Forest. The city is the site of the famous Albert Ludwig University (1457). Its faculty has included Martin Heidegger, Max Weber, and Edmund Husserl. More than 27,000 students attend the university and other Freiburg institutions, including the College of Education, the State Music College, and five technical colleges.
The Freiburg Münster, or cathedral, built between the 13th and 16th centuries, is one of the finest Gothic ecclesiastical structures in Germany. It is surmounted by a tower 118 m (386 ft) tall and contains paintings by the artists Hans Holbein the Younger and Hans Baldung-Grien. The Augustiner Museum is noted for its art from the Middle Ages to the 20th century, and is located in a former monastery. Freiburg is the scene of numerous festivals throughout the year. The city includes 646 hectares (1600 acres) of vineyards, acquired through the assimilation of surrounding villages.
