Freiburg, the City

Freiburg's unique location between Jura, Vosges and the Black Forest, makes it into one of the most attractive German cities. In Freiburg, founded in 1120, tradition and modernism blend into a very harmonic mixture: While it is the vibrant cultural and economic center of the Black Forest region, it has managed to keep its traditional flair and a laid-back charm. Together with excellent local food and wine, the pleasant climate and the beautiful landscape make Freiburg one of the most favorite holiday destinations in Germany.

The old town. Charming narrow alleys winding around the famous gothic cathedral, busy markets and the many "Bächle" (streamlets) invite visitors from all over the world to discover the old town of Freiburg. Romantic coffee terraces and restaurants on wide open squares bring Mediterranean atmosphere into the capital city of the Black Forest region.

The University. Archduke Albrecht founded the Albert-Ludwigs-University in 1457 which makes it the second oldest university in Germany . Directly located in the city center, the University with approximately 12,000 employees, is one of the biggest employers in Frei-burg. Students have the opportunity to choose between 65 different subjects. The University Library with its stock of more than 3.3 million books offers not only a wide selection of books but also long opening adapted to students' needs. 2,000 students from all over the world attend the Summer University every year. Taking into account the four other universities, around 28,000 students live and study in Freiburg and contribute to the liberal and very open-minded atmosphere Freiburg is famous for.

Leisure activities. Freiburg is well-known for its great variety of cultural and leisure activities. The offer ranges from theatres, cinemas, and museums to annual events like the "ZMF" (music festival) or cosy beer gardens such as "Feierling" or "Kastaniengarten". Thanks to its geographical location, Freiburg is an ideal base for excursions to the neighboring regions of France and Switzerland and - of course - the Black Forest. The Sport Faculty offers more than 70 different courses, which are mostly free of charge for students. The Black Forest is a perfect place for hiking, cycling, skiing, etc.

Accommodation. Freiburg is a very popular place among students. In case of difficulties to find accommodation the University provides intensive support. Shared flats are typical German students' accommodation. Whoever is not successful in finding a flat can contact the Students’ Union ("Studentenwerk Freiburg (SWFR)") which offers 3,500 places distributed among several student apartments.

It is quite fun to live and study in Freiburg. As it is a rather special German city, it is this flair that makes Freiburg so attractive and unique. In other words: Freiburg offers to everyone what he or she is looking for. Now it is your turn to find out for yourself...

10 Reasons to Choose the University of Freiburg

The International Office of the university has developed an innovative self assessment tool (in German) for international students. It contains valuable information about cultural aspects as well as details about the university system in Germany and the Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg in particular. For more information please visit the university webpage for International Affairs.