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Freiburg

Mayor

Martin Horn

Biography

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Freiburg was founded in the year 1120 by Konrad and Duke Berthold III of Zähringen as a free market town - as its very name suggests, with “Frei” meaning “free” and “burg” translating into “town” or “city”.

Located at a strategic location connecting a multitude of trade routes between the Mediterranean and North Sea regions, Freiburg quickly grew in size and population. By the year 1200 it already boasted 6000 citizens.

The silver mines in the region were one of the most important factors for the initial development of the city but Freiburg quickly grew into vital academic and educational focal point. As a university city and commercial centre, Freiburg attracted many high-profile members of societies over the centuries and remained a bastion of Catholicism amid the Reformation.

Over the years, however, the many wars fought in the regions surrounding Freiburg took its toll on the city. Among the most disastrous of them were the Thirty Years’ War which saw the displacement and death of over 10,000 of the city’s residents and the Second World War during which the city suffered heavy bombings from Allied forces.

Germany / Freiburg / Stuttgart / Energy efficiency / Public Spaces

Highways are opening up for solar in Baden-Württemberg

Regional authorities have identified 260 roadside areas suitable for solar farms; so they are looking for partners

Feb 03, 2023 15:01

Denis Balgaranov

Germany / Freiburg / Stuttgart / Politics and Reforms / Public Spaces

Baden-Württemberg municipalities will be able to set up weapons-free zones

The move is supposed to help reduce knife crime in cities like Stuttgart, Freiburg and Mannheim

Sep 20, 2022 15:58

Denis Balgaranov

Germany / Freiburg / Mobility / Politics and Reforms

Over 260 German cities band together to demand 30 km/h speed zones

Currently, municipalities in Germany cannot issue their own maximum speed laws if the latter are below a certain threshold

Aug 15, 2022 15:57

Denis Balgaranov

Germany / Freiburg / Education and Sport / Energy efficiency

Green energy in sports: Biggest solar-powered football stadium in Germany is underway

Freiburg’s Europa Stadium should be able to produce almost all the energy it needs with renewable sources on site

Jun 13, 2022 15:07

Denis Balgaranov

Germany / Freiburg / Digital transformation / Growing City

Digitalisation and high-speed broadband rolls into small town Germany

Digitalisation Minister for Baden-Württemberg, Thomas Strobl, explained that the current plan is supposed to fill in the grey areas in connectivity for rural and small-town communities

Dec 10, 2021 16:42

Denis Balgaranov