Freiburg im Breisgau is located in the German state of Baden-Württemberg, on the west side of the mountain range known as the Black Forest. The city is an important center of science as there is the university founded in 1457. There are also research centers and a solar observatory. The observatory is located at the top of Mount Schauinsland and can be reached by a cable car. The Roman Catholic cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the construction of which started at the beginning of the 13th century, is the most valuable historic monument of Freiburg. The temple has a 116-meter tower with a spire dominating the city. The city gate called Schwabentor also comes from the beginning of the 13th century, its tower was added in 1572. Today it is the pride of the city. The tower has been painted white and it is 60 meters high.
