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Freiburg, Germany

Freiburg im Breisgau
View over Freiburg
View over Freiburg
Flag of Freiburg im Breisgau
Flag
Coat of arms of Freiburg im Breisgau
Coat of arms
Freiburg im Breisgau  is located in Germany
Freiburg im Breisgau
Freiburg im Breisgau
Coordinates: 47°59′N 7°51′E / 47.983°N 7.850°E / 47.983; 7.850Coordinates: 47°59′N 7°51′E / 47.983°N 7.850°E / 47.983; 7.850
Country Germany
State Baden-Württemberg
Admin. region Freiburg
District Stadtkreis
Government
 • Lord Mayor Dieter Salomon (Greens)
Area
 • Total 153.07 km2 (59.10 sq mi)
Population (2015-12-31)
 • Total 226,393
 • Density 1,500/km2 (3,800/sq mi)
Time zone CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes 79098–79117
Dialling codes 0761, 07664, 07665
Vehicle registration FR
Website [2]
Largest groups of foreign residents
Nationality Population (2014)
 Italy 2,996
 Turkey 2,105
 Romania 1,592
 France 1,542
 Serbia (incl. Montenegro) 1,279
 Poland 1,075
 Croatia 1,027
 Russia 936

Freiburg im Breisgau (German pronunciation: [ˈfʁaɪ̯bʊʁk ʔɪm ˈbʁaɪ̯sɡaʊ̯]; Alemannic: Friburg im Brisgau [ˈfʁiːb̥əɡ̊]; French: Fribourg-en-Brisgau) is a city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany with a population of about 220,000. In the south-west of the country, it straddles the Dreisam river, at the foot of the Schlossberg. Historically, the city has acted as the hub of the Breisgau region on the western edge of the Black Forest in the Upper Rhine Plain. A famous old German university town, and archiepiscopal seat, Freiburg was incorporated in the early twelfth century and developed into a major commercial, intellectual, and ecclesiastical center of the upper Rhine region. The city is known for its medieval minster and Renaissance university, as well as for its high standard of living and advanced environmental practices. The city is situated in the heart of the major Baden wine-growing region and serves as the primary tourist entry point to the scenic beauty of the Black Forest. According to meteorological statistics, the city is the sunniest and warmest in Germany and held the all-time German temperature record of 40.2 °C (104.4 °F) from 2003 to 2015.

Freiburg was founded by Konrad and Duke Berthold III of Zähringen in 1120 as a free market town; hence its name, which translates to "free (or independent) town". Frei means "free", and Burg, like the modern English word "borough", was used in those days for an incorporated city or town, usually one with some degree of autonomy. The German word Burg also means "a fortified town", as in Hamburg. Thus, it is likely that the name of this place means a "fortified town of free citizens".


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