Freiburg is known as the "Jewel of the Black Forest". It is a major city in the southwest of Germany, situated not in but on the edge of the Black Forest.

Lying in the secluded wine-rich south western corner of Germany, Freiburg is a very laid back, beautiful university city. Known throughout Germany for its university, good weather (snow in winter and seemingly endless sunny days in summer), vineyards, and soccer club, Freiburg is considered by Germans to be a desirable place to live.

Due to its secluded location in the "Dreiländereck" (Three country corner) and being fairly removed from any other larger German cities, the mentality in Freiburg has often more in common with Alsace in France and Switzerland than the rest of Germany. Locals often go shopping in France and Switzerland for their respective native products and go to museums and theaters in Basel or Zurich. Everything above Frankfurt is "North Germany" and very far away. Hence one can find a strong local patriotism, which shows itself in the anthem of Baden (the former independent state), often sung more than the national anthem!

Freiburg has also been described as California of Germany.