Where is Freiburg located. Freiburg - the city of freedom and delicious grilled sausages

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  • Attractions Freiburg im Breisgau (German Freiburg im Breisgau)

    From 1945 until the founding of the state of Baden-Württemberg on April 25, 1952, Freiburg im Breisgau (abbreviated Freiburg) was the capital of the state of Baden. Currently, the city, located on the river Dreisam (German: Dreisam), has 227,400 inhabitants (as of 1 August 2016).

    The old town with its famous landmarks - and the brook (German: Bächle), is visited by over three million people every year. Documented since the Middle Ages, Freiburg's streams, fed by the Draisam River, can be found on most of the streets and alleys of the old town. The total length of Bähle is 15.5 kilometers, of which 6.4 kilometers are underground.

    Since the founding of the Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg in 1457, Freiburg has been one of the classic German university cities.

    The first mention of settlements in the area of \u200b\u200btoday's Freiburg can be found in a document dated 1008. Around 1091, Duke Berthold II of the ancient German Zeringen family built a beautiful Castrum de Friburch on the Schlossberg mountain. The settlement of servants and craftsmen at the foot of the mountain, the son of Berthold Konrad, granted market and city rights in 1120. Around 1200, Berthold V ordered the construction of today's, Freiburger Münster, on the site of a too small church at that time. The construction was financed primarily by the revenues of the silver mines in the Black Forest, which greatly contributed to the prosperity of the citizens of Freiburg.

    After the extinction of the Tseringens, the Counts von Urach took over dominance in 1218 and henceforth called themselves Counts of Freiburg. After frequent disputes with the counts over financial issues, the Freiburg citizens in 1368 bought off the reign of the unloved Aegino III and took over the protection of the House of Habsburgs.

    At the Battle of Sempach in 1386, the Swiss defeated the troops of the Austrian Duke Leopold III and destroyed part of the Freiburg nobility. Then the guilds dominated the city council. Freiburg was an imperial city until 1427 and was not part of any land. In 1457, Archduke Albrecht VI created.

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    The Augustinian Museum in Freiburg im Breisgau is one of the most important museums in the Upper Rhine, with a renowned collection of art from the Middle Ages to the Baroque as well as 19th century paintings. It is also the Diocesan Museum of the Archdiocese of Freiburg.

    Schlossberg pedestrian bridge (German Schlossbergsteg) Category: Freiburg im Breisgau

    Schlossberg is a wooded mountain located in the city of Freiburg im Breisgau to the east of the historic city center. It is located at an altitude of 455.9 meters above sea level. The Schlossberg tower offers panoramic views of all parts of the city and its surroundings.

    Münsterplatz (German Münsterplatz) Category: Freiburg im Breisgau

    Münsterplatz, or Cathedral Square, in the historic center of Freiburg is the square that surrounds the city's Cathedral. The Freiburg Behle brooks run along the edges of the square. Münsterplatz forms the largest square in the city.

    Church of St. John (German Johanneskirche) Category: Freiburg im Breisgau

    St. John's Church, or Johanneskirche, is a Catholic church in Freiburg im Breisgau. It was opened in 1899. After the city part of Wiehre (German: Wiehre) was annexed to the city in 1825, there began a rapid construction activity, as a result of which the number of inhabitants increased dramatically over several decades.

    Archaeological Museum at the Colombi Palace (German Archäologisches Museum Colombischlössle) Category: Freiburg im Breisgau

    The Archaeological Museum, housed in the neo-Gothic palace of Colombi, is the municipal museum of Freiburg. The collection goes back to Alexander Ecker, Heinrich Fischer and Wilhelm Deeke. Deeke was director of the Geological Institute of the University of Freiburg. He expanded the museum's collection of primitive history and ethnography, which had existed since 1867, and placed it since 1926 at the Geological Institute at 40 Hebelstraße.

    University of Freiburg (Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg) Category: Freiburg im Breisgau

    On April 20, 1455, Pope Calixtus III granted the request of Archduke Albrecht VI of Austria to create a privileged university in Freiburg, so that it would serve not only the state and the people of his country, but also for the needs and well-being of other countries of the world.

    Theater Freiburg (German Theater Freiburg) Category: Freiburg im Breisgau

    Theater Freiburg is the oldest and largest theater in the city of Freiburg im Breisgau. It is located on the edge of the Old Town at the corner of Bertholdstrasse and Platz der Alten Synagoge (Old Synagogue). The building unites four sites under one roof: a large hall, a small hall, a chamber stage and a workshop. In the winter foyer, author readings and chamber concerts are additionally held. Since September 2005 the theater has been operating as a separate company.

    Gate Martinstor (German Martinstor) Category: Freiburg im Breisgau

    The Martinstore Gate (in the Middle Ages they were called Norsinger Gate) on the Kaiser-Josef-Straße is, in comparison with the Swabian Gate, the oldest of both surviving gate towers of the medieval city fortifications of Freiburg in Breisgau.

    Swabian Gate (German Schwabentor) Category: Freiburg im Breisgau

    The Swabian Gate (in the Middle Ages, it was also called Obertor, German Obertor) is the younger of the two surviving city gates (see also Martinstor) of the medieval city fortifications of Freiburg in Breisgau. The gate tower, built around 1250, originally had a passage between the outer and inner walls of the fortress in the direction of the bypass city ditch and was open to the city part. Only in 1547 the tower was closed to the city by a stone wall.

    Freiburg streams (German Freiburger Bächle) Category: Freiburg im Breisgau

    Freiburg rivulets "Behle" are the symbol of the city. Documented since the Middle Ages, waterways fed by the Draizam River can be found on most of the streets and alleys of the Old Town. The total length of the streams is 15.5 kilometers, of which 6.4 kilometers are underground.



    The south of Germany is Freiburg. The population is about 200 thousand. Of these, about 30 thousand are students. Therefore, this city is also called the youngest. The city was founded in 1120 on the basis of the Schlossberg castle. The first university was opened in the middle of the 15th century. During its history, it has experienced many sieges and destruction. It was captured by the Austrians and French. A railway was built in the middle of the 19th century. During the Second World War, the city was again destroyed by bombing. Only the Munster Cathedral was not damaged. The city is located on the border with France and Switzerland. Thanks to its beauty, ecology and climate, it has become the cherished dream of every second German.

    Freiburg - Mecca of German tourists


    Modern Freiburg has become a place of pilgrimage for tourists. More than 3 million guests visit it annually. The road to the famous Black Forest begins from here. In the city itself, you can walk along the historic streets, visit cafes and bars, and enjoy the local cuisine. Getting to know the city begins with a visit to the Munster Cathedral, even from afar seeing the pyramid of its towers. The cathedral began to be built in the late Romanesque style, but French Gothic came into fashion at this time and the architecture of the cathedral changed. It is decorated with bright stained-glass windows of the XII-XIV centuries, which were created by local artisans. Above the cathedral there is a 116-meter carved tower, climbing which you can admire the whole city. And also there are not quite cathedral figures. One of them is a naked ass. Legend has it that it faces the dwelling of a city dweller who did not donate a single pfening for the construction of the cathedral. The cathedral is distinguished by a large nave and beautiful pointed arches.

    Then the inspection of the building of the city council begins. Its main entrance is in the Renaissance style. Above the entrance there are 2 lions holding the city coat of arms. At the beginning of the 16th century, a trading yard was built on Münsterplatz. Various events are now held in its four rooms. There is a strictly regulated trade on the street. On the one hand, they sell local goods. On the other, overseas.

    All the streets have grooves in which clear water running from the mountains gurgles. According to the legend, everyone who steps into the groove is sure to get married or get married here.

    After the monument to Berthold Schwarz, the European inventor of gunpowder, the famous hotel "At the Red Bear" appears. Locals are absolutely sure that this is the oldest hotel in Germany. To disagree with this is to offend the Freiburgites. The sisters Marina and Anastasia Tsvetaeva studied and lived in the local boarding house on Waltstrasse. In memory of this, a memorial plaque is installed on its wall.

    The city used to be entered through the Swabian Gate. Now they have an image with a very interesting plot, which is still told to guests and tourists. One wealthy, but not very smart merchant decided to buy the city by paying 2 barrels of gold for it. When the barrels were opened, there was sand instead of gold. It was the merchant's wife who, out of greed, replaced gold with stones and sand. The legend is silent about the future fate of the wife. However, the locals thought this was not enough, and they claim that Lomonosov once studied here, although in reality this was not. But Erasmus of Rotterdam really studied and taught here.

    Freiburg is also known as a venue for various festivals. The Wine Festival is celebrated near the cathedral. The music festival is held outside the city. The Sea of \u200b\u200bLove electronic music festival is held by the lake.

    Freiburg video


    Attractions Freiburg

    The uniqueness of the city starts right from the train station. All sights seem to be lined up and follow one another, which is especially convenient for tourists. After the station, the building of the city theater rises before your eyes, the facade of which is decorated with stucco molding. Opposite there is a memorial stone on the site of the destroyed synagogue. An equestrian statue is installed next to the red building of the university, which is the compositional center of the Berthold fountain. The youngest attraction of the city is the Museum of Modern Art. Even the building speaks of the modern content of the exhibition. Albert-Ludwigs-Universitaet Freiburg is one of the oldest universities in Germany. Those who want to improve their knowledge of the German language come here from all over the world. For its efforts to preserve natural resources, the city is among the top ten cities in Europe. Car traffic is prohibited in the Fauban area. You can only get around here by bicycles.

    The beauty of the landscapes surrounding the city is known all over the world, and the climate of Freiburg is considered the most fertile in all of Germany. Nowhere else are there as many sunny days as there are. Several ski resorts, famous thermal springs, crystal mountain lakes - all this is Freiburg. All this is crowned with the largest water park in Europe. But the favorite vacation spot is the Black Forest, the black forest. Winter ski slopes, lush forests blooming in the spring, bringing coolness to the lake. More than half of the trees are conifers. This forest covers a mountain range with many villages from Hoffmann's tales. There are well-equipped resorts with mineral springs.

    To get to Freiburg due to the lack of an international airport, you can fly to Basel or Frankfurt am Main. From there, the bus is less than an hour away. In addition, you can get from Moscow to Freiburg by a comfortable train.

    The city of Freiburg im Breisgau in Germany, most often called simply Freiburg, is located in the very center of Europe at the junction of the borders of Germany, France and Switzerland. Founded in 1120, it is the fourth largest in this region of Germany, known for its main attractions: the university opened in the 15th century and the Münster Cathedral.

    Despite the bombing of the city during the Second World War, there is a lot to see in Freiburg.

    The city is very beautiful: tiled roofs of houses, narrow cobbled streets, two town halls, greenery and flowers all around. Looking at it, it is difficult to believe that its history is full of sieges, attacks by French and Austrian troops, as well as significant destruction in 1942-1944.

    It contains 19 bells with a range of more than two and a half octaves, the oldest of which was cast in 1258, the total weight of the bells is 25 tons. The main decoration of the temple is the altar, painted with stories of the biblical life of the Mother of God. It also houses the world's largest organ, which consists of 4 parts, located in different parts of the cathedral. The windows of the temple are decorated with colorful stained-glass windows, most of which are copies of those that were lost or sent to the museum.

    Freiburg University

    The University of Freiburg is the oldest and most prestigious in Germany. It was founded in 1457 by the Archduke Albrecht VI, and the diploma of this university is still respected all over the world. At the university, you can get education in 11 faculties, where about 30 thousand students study annually, 16% of them are foreigners.

    Organized by the University College of Freiburg, it complements and supports the work of faculties, develops programs and implements innovative approaches to teaching. Students lead an active social and cultural life. Among the graduates of this university are Nobel Prize winners.

    Europa-park in Germany

    The second most visited amusement park in the European Union is located 40 km from the city. Spread over 95 hectares and has 16 thematic zones, most of which are dedicated to the European Union, the park offers about 100 different attractions. The fastest and highest Silver Star roller coaster in Europe can be distinguished. Various themed shows, parades and other performances - all this makes the park an interesting place for family leisure, to which you definitely want to return.

    How to get to Freiburg?

    Due to its location, the city is directly connected to 37 cities in Europe. To come to Freiburg, you first need to fly to the airport of nearby large European cities, and then get there by rail or by car (car or bus to the city.

    Freiburg is the warmest city in Germany, and the sun shines here for more than 2 thousand hours a year. This circumstance allowed his authorities to take care of the environment, which is facilitated by numerous solar panels that generate a huge amount of energy, and this allowed Freiburg to become one of the cleanest cities in Germany. There are also many attractions - ancient cathedrals, amazing planetariums, charming churches, as well as shopping centers and tiny souvenir shops.

    Freiburg landmarks

    Freiburg Cathedral... It can be considered one of the most beautiful cathedrals in Germany. The main building material for its construction was pink sandstone, from which most of the churches in the region were built. The spire of the cathedral, although not the highest, attracts the attention of tourists with its delicate character. You can see it from the inside, as well as admire the city landscape, by climbing the stairs to a height of 70 meters. Freiburg, Muensterplatz 6.

    Cathedral in Freiburg (Photo © Mike Hauser / www.flickr.com / CC BY 2.0)

    City Planetarium (Planetarium Freiburg)... By visiting this planetarium, you can learn interesting facts about the Universe. The child will surely like modern films that are shown in the same room. However, they have no translation, so you should know German. Freiburg, Bismarckallee 7g | next to Central Station.

    Historical trading house ( Historische Handelshaus)... This historic building is a favorite tourist destination. It is located on the south side of the cathedral and can be recognized by its tiled tower. The trading house was built at the beginning of the 16th century. Above the balcony you can see 4 figures and coats of arms, which are the symbols of Freiburg and the Habsburg dynasty. Freiburg, Munsterplatz.

    Munsterplatz. It is considered to be the most beautiful square in the city. Here you can not only admire the beautiful buildings or the Cathedral, but also buy the freshest products at the farmers' market, which sells flowers, berries and delicious fried sausages.

    Mundenhof... Great place to visit with children. This zoo has a fairly large area, and there are no predatory animals. The inspection will take several hours. The animals are practically not afraid of visitors and come very close to the fence. The entrance to the zoo is free, but parking is required at a rate of 5 euros per day. Freiburg, Mundenhof 37.


    Freiburg Zoo (Photo © Till Westermayer / www.flickr.com / CC BY-SA 2.0)

    Wenzingerhaus... When visiting Cathedral Square, the attention of many tourists is attracted by the house with a winter garden, which was built by the burgomaster for his wife. At the moment it houses a museum of the history of the city. Very often it is confused with the Trade House, which is located nearby and its main difference is the red color of the walls. Freiburg, Muensterplatz 30.

    "House at the whale" ("Haus bei Wal"). This historic building is located on the north side of the road, on the opposite side you can see the Martinskirche - a church that was previously part of a Franciscan monastery. The House by the Whale has a rather extravagant look, and its bay window, made in the late Renaissance style, has two gargoyles. Freiburg, Franziskanerstrasse.

    Herz-Jesu-Kirche... This church is best viewed from the pedestrian bridge that leads to the old part of Freiburg. The building has a neat look and you can take very beautiful photos from the bridge. Freiburg, Eschholzstr. 74.


    Church of St. Martin (Photo © joergens.mi / commons.wikimedia.org/CC-BY-SA-3.0)

    Church of St. Martin (Kirche St. Martin).The charming building is located in a central area opposite the town hall. Today it is a replica of a magnificent 13th century structure that was destroyed. The main advantages are rigor, greatness and a kind of asceticism. Freiburg, Rathausgasse 3.

    Seepark... It is located north of the old part of Freiburg. The park is a freshwater lake with entertainment areas on one side. Here you can have an interesting rest, climb the wooden observation tower, see turtles or just eat ice cream. Freiburg, Sundgauallee 12A.

    What you need to do


    Where andwhat to eat and drink?


    Table setting (Photo © GoWest13 / www.flickr.com / CC BY-ND 2.0)

    Zirbelstube... This French restaurant will delight visitors with exquisite decoration, candles on tables and Swiss pine wood trim, and you can taste a wide variety of dishes and wines. Average check: 7 euros.

    Wolfshoehle... The chefs prepare real surprise dishes, harmoniously combining the incompatible, the cleanliness and level of service are striking. Average check: 14 euros.

    Hirschen Lehen - Hotel & Restaurant... The restaurant of modern cuisine offers delicious dishes in large portions, usually they order good wine from an extensive wine list, the only minus, and for some it is a plus - an institution somewhat remote from the city center. Average check: 12 euros.

    If you are in the German town of Freiburg with your child, you should definitely visit themed places, for example, the Mundenhof zoo.

    Lovers of creativity and contemporary art can look at one of the performances at the local Theater Freiburg.

    If you wish, you can watch an interesting video about Freiburg:

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    Today, when building and buying housing in Russia, almost no one thinks about the cost of maintaining a house, its impact on the environment and, in general, about the life of the house in the future. The topic of ecological construction is raised quite rarely, even the assignment of energy efficiency classes has become relatively recent.

    So far, residents and developers are neither financially nor culturally interested in thinking about the future, so green construction remains an exception in business class housing and offices. Meanwhile, not too far from you with us, sustainable housing has become the norm and has existed since the last century. Further text and photographs by Maria Melnikova:

    Freiburg is a small city in southwestern Germany, located between Basel, Strasbourg and Stuttgart. The University of Freiburg, where Erasmus of Rotterdam and Martin Heidegger studied, is both the main city attraction, and the main employer, and the reason for the constant growth of the urban population.

    Perhaps it is the high proportion of students and university workers that explains the fact that Freiburg has become one of the pioneers of the environmental movement. It all began in the 70s of the XX century with the protests of residents against the construction of a nuclear power plant. Over the next 40 years, the city systematically introduced environmental ideas: for example, in 1977 it opened, in 1994 they built the world's first house that produced more energy than it consumed, in 2014 they launched an industrial zone with a minimal ecological footprint, and in 2017 they even abandoned disposable glasses. for coffee. In Freiburg, they implemented, which formed the basis of sustainable development policy in Europe and in the world.

    And Freiburg deservedly bears the title of "capital of green building". In the 90s, in response to an acute housing shortage, construction began on the large housing estate Rieselfeld. In parallel, the Vauban region began to develop on the lands from which the French military base had moved out. Both districts were created taking into account the key principles of ecological development, but in reality they turned out to be completely different.


    Districts are located on the outskirts of the city. But there is a tram going there, and Freiburg itself is small in area, so in this case the principle of “development of the outskirts is not environmentally friendly” does not apply.

    Rieselfeld - a perfectly planned eco-district

    Rieselfeld is located on the western outskirts of Freiburg, in areas that have been occupied by sewerage infrastructure for over 100 years. For a balance between development and natural areas, out of 320 hectares of vacated building land, only 70 were allocated, and the remaining 250 hectares were turned into a protected nature reserve.

    The ideas for the Rieselfeld development were developed through a series of architectural competitions from 1991-1992. Large residential areas of Freiburg, built in the 20th century, most often had a linear or open plan, so the idea of \u200b\u200bcreating an area with quarter buildings and private courtyards was revolutionary at that time. The main axis of the new district is a commercial street with a tram line. There is a small square in the center, behind which the park begins. The main infrastructure of the district is concentrated around these spaces - schools, churches, cultural and sports centers, unusual in their architecture. The size of the quarters is 70 by 130 meters, in the central part of the building is five-storey, and on the outskirts there are townhouses.

    When creating the district, great attention was paid to environmental planning. A complex soil cleaning procedure was implemented. The orientation of the building promotes energy efficiency, the energy consumption of buildings does not exceed 65 kW / m2. in year. Many homes use alternative energy sources such as solar panels, heat pumps and fireplaces. A system for collecting and purifying rainwater has been implemented; the district is penetrated by a network of green spaces associated with the surrounding natural areas.

    To manage the development of the district, the Freiburg administration has created a separate project team with the participation of Kommunalentwicklung LEG from Stuttgart, which specializes in urban infrastructure development. This team coordinated the activities of commercial developers.

    In 2015, the construction of the district was completed. Today, 10.5 thousand people live here and about a thousand jobs are located. There are several associations of residents in the area, and various events are held monthly in the cultural center. It would seem that the area meets all the principles of a comfortable urban environment, which we strive for today - a human scale, active ground floors, various facades, high-quality and green public spaces, safe streets. But still something is missing. This is especially evident when you compare Rieselfeld with the second new eco-district of Vauban.

    Vauban - people create a place

    The fate of the Vauban area was somewhat different. The city authorities did not think of this territory as residential, the opportunity for its development appeared only in 1992, when the French army liberated an area of \u200b\u200b40 hectares in the southeast of the city, built up with buildings of the “barrack” type.

    The initiative came from the residents - in 1993, when the land was still owned by the federal government, student associations took the initiative to turn several "army barracks" into student housing and entered into an official lease. In 1994, the Independent Housing Project LLC (SUSI GmbH), also set up by the residents of Freiburg, bought several buildings from the federal government and launched a renovation process. While the city was engaged in land acquisition issues, a group of interested citizens formed an association Forum Vauban e.V. to discuss the use of this territory to solve the problem of affordable housing in Freiburg. The organizers of the association were only 7 people, but after 2 months already 60 people met on a regular basis, and in 2003 the number of active participants exceeded 400 people.


    Thus, from the very beginning, residents were actively involved in the development of the territory. The Vauban Forum became a link between residents and the city administration, this independent structure organized a discussion of the principles for the development of the area, worked with initiative groups that were ready to jointly build multi-apartment residential buildings (in Germany, such groups are called Baugruppen). From 1996 to 2000, about 4 meetings were held every week, dedicated to one or another issue of the development of the region. Thematic working groups operated on a regular basis.

    To manage the development of the area, the city established a Vauban city planning council, which included representatives from the Vauban Forum and various departments of the city administration.

    As a result, most of the buildings in Vauban are built by private groups of residents and housing cooperatives, rather than professional developers. Today the district is home to about 5.5 thousand inhabitants. The “cooperative spirit” of the area is visible to the naked eye - there are many urban gardens, homemade adventure playgrounds, family cafes, and the community center is filled even during the day on a weekday. Two- and three-storey houses are quaint and not similar to each other, the adjoining plots look “country-like”, some buildings still resemble squats. First graders make their own way home from school and look sternly at strangers walking around the area. Social control really works here, according to statistics, Vauban is the safest area in Freiburg.

    Environmental values \u200b\u200bare not an empty word for residents, there are rumors that walking down the street with a plastic bag from a large supermarket can catch a lot of disapproving glances, and taxi drivers often ask the residents of Vauban how they live there.

    Like Rieselfelf, Vauban complies with the principles of environmental development, only the ecology here is sometimes even more radical - there are many houses with zero energy consumption, you need to pay 18 thousand euros for parking at the house, all large trees were preserved during construction, play streets were allocated on which you can only drive at a speed of 7 km / h, and the houses are covered with greenery so much that the facade is sometimes not even visible. The district also has its own cogeneration power plant operating on biogas with a record efficiency of 96%.

    Interestingly, there are practically no private territories and courtyards here (only small gardens near houses), and public spaces are divided into public and semi-private. The building structure is rather linear, in some way inheriting the old plan for building a military base.

    Vauban made Freiburg famous all over the world, the area was written on the main page of the New York Times, and an exposition at the Expo in Shanghai was dedicated to him. Mayors of cities from all over the world come to Vauban, their main question is whether it is necessary to teach people about the ecological way of life before moving to the eco-district, or will they automatically start behaving environmentally after they move here?

    The answer from the people of Vauban is “learning by planning”. It was in the process of discussions, planning, joint work of “building groups” that they became the community that creates this place. Vauban is unique because the inhabitants made it so. There is a fear in the community that when old residents are replaced by new ones, the spirit of the area will be lost. Therefore, in 2010, the organization ‘Quartiersarbeit’, which replaced the Forum Vauban, launched a series of workshops ’Vauban 10 plus’, dedicated to discussing further plans for the development of the area, including its adaptation for growing children and the needs of the older generation.

    Vauban vs Rieselfeld

    The districts have approximately the same population density, 150 and 140 people per hectare, respectively, but the structure of the building and the nature of the place are completely different. Perfectly planned, Rieselfeld seems desolate and impersonal, while Vauban is cozy, lively and unusual.

    Interestingly, the previous mayor of the city liked Rieselfeld more than Vauban. They say that the buildings there are nicer, and the public spaces are not self-made, and the church is beautiful, and in general, as planned, everyone did so. But Vauban certainly cost the city less - there are no unique architectural structures, residents created a number of infrastructure facilities on their own, and the tram line was extended there only in 2006. Despite these “shortcomings,” the area has always been more attractive than Rieselfeld, where until now apartments for sale.

    It is also believed that it was precisely due to the fact that the city authorities were busy creating Rieselfeld that Vauban was able to realize the full participation of the townspeople - the authorities simply did not have enough time to resist the plans of the residents.

    The researchers note that decision-makers often focus on the technical aspects of environmental development, such as energy savings, the use of eco-friendly materials and greening, while forgetting the importance of social capital and social connections. But the social component is an important element of the concept of “sustainability”, without which the place will not become truly sustainable. But developing social bonds is far more difficult than building houses. And the Vauban area is fortunate to have people who made it so unique.

    Today, Russian developers are beginning to think about how to promote the development of social ties between the residents of the complex, they are laying urban gardens and community centers in projects. But, probably, real rallying occurs only when residents “build the area together”, ie. are directly involved in the planning and construction of their homes and the creation of the necessary infrastructure (“build a house” as a basic human task in folk wisdom). But in the conditions of modern cities there are practically no such examples. And, perhaps, Vauban is one of the largest implemented projects, proving the benefits of this approach.


    Master plan that took 1st place in the competition (FELIXX + CITYFÖRSTER)

    P.S. : Freiburg is now starting planning for another new district, Dietenbach, with an area of \u200b\u200babout 100 hectares. I wonder what path will its development take? So far, the city administration has held a competition and chose a concept that is more like Rieselfeld in typology. There is an active process of public discussions.

    I wonder if residents will have initiatives similar to those in Vauban? And will the city administration facilitate this process?

    Additional Information.