Mug Shot — «Freiburg - Historic Merchants Hall»

City: Freiburg Country: Germany Edition: 2008 Icon Edition Belongs to: 533 users (49 trading, 103 seeking)

Freiburg is a city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. In the extreme 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. One of the famous old German university towns, and archiepiscopal seat, Freiburg was incorporated in the early 12th century and developed into a major commercial, intellectual, and ecclesiastical centre of the upper Rhine region. The city is known for its ancient university and its medieval minster, as well as for its high standard of living and advanced environmental practices. The city is situated in the heart of a major 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 holds the German temperature record of 40.2 °C. Freiburg was founded by Konrad and Duke Bertold III of Zähringen in 1120 as a free market town; hence its name, which translates to "free 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.[5] 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".

The Historic Merchants Hall in Freiburg dates to 1520-21. The front facade is decorated with statues and coats of arms that were sculpted between 1520 and 1531 by Sixt von Staufen. The sculpted figures under baldachins show Emperor Maximilian I, King Philipp the Beautiful of Castile, Emperor Charles V and Emperor Ferdinand I - all Habsburgs.

photo by lucky
edited by mobydick74

  Germany, Freiburg

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