Freiburg has a large number of museums covering a wide range of subjects. The largest is the former monastery of the Augustinian hermits, now the Augustinian Museum. The museum for pre-history and early history takes visitors on a journey through the early history of southern Baden. The Tin Figures Collection brings the history of the town and the region to life through tin figures.Wentzinger House Municipal History Museum
The Municipal History Museum is housed in late-baroque Wentzinger House, named after Christian Wentzinger (1710-1797) a well-known Freiburg artist of that period. The museum relates the history of the town of Freiburg from its origins around 1100 until the baroque period, focusing on the history of trade and commerce, the abbey and the university. There are models of the town as it was in 1600 and 1700 and of its architectural development to the present day. Other topics covered are the construction of the minster, the Thirty Years' War, life in the abbey and the clergy, plus trade, mining, arts and crafts. Closed on Mondays, guided tours available.
» www.msg-freiburg.deAdelhausen Museum of Ethnology and Natural History
The building that houses the museum was the New Adelhauser Convent, built for an order of Dominican nuns between 1687 and 1694 in the southern district of Freiburg's old town. Today, the Adelhausen Museum's natural history and ethnology sections contain a huge number of exhibits giving a fascinating insight into the cultural history of faraway countries and the special features of natural habitats closer to home. The precious stones collection with its many minerals and rocks is one of the highlight of the museum. The natural history collection consists of about half a million objects from the fields of geology, mineralogy, palaeontology, botany and zoology. The ethnological collection comprises around 25,000 exhibits illustrating all aspects of the life of non-European peoples. Closed on Mondays.
» www.museen.freiburg.deSchauinsland Mining Museum
The most unusual visitor mine in the Black Forest traces 800 years of mining history. The mine workings were sunk into Schauinsland mountain near Freiburg to explore for silver, lead and zinc. The tunnels are about 100 kilometres in length, on 22 levels, making this the biggest mine in the Black Forest. At the beginning of the 20th century 250 miners worked here. Guided tours provide visitors with insights into all aspects of ore mining. Since 1975, the Barbarastollen shaft has been used by the German Federal Office of Administration as a storage site for state archives copied onto reels of film. Closed November to May.
» www.schauinsland.deColombischlössle Archaeological Museum
The Colombischlössle Archaeological Museum was opened in 1983 in Colombischlössle House in Colombipark on Rotteckring. The house was built between 1859 and 1861 and is named after Countess Maria Antonia Gertrudis de Zea Bermudez y Colombi. The museum contains Palaeolithic female figures, royal Celtic tombs, Roman deities and Alemannic jewellery which bring to live a cross-section of eras in the history of the Upper Rhine and Lake Constance. These impressive relics give visitors an insight into ancient cultures, religions and everyday life. Temporary exhibitions and special events complement the permanent exhibition. Closed on Mondays, 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January, guided tours available on request.
» www.museen.freiburg.deUniseum
The newly established Freiburg Uniseum at the Albert Ludwig University is both a museum and a forum. Its exhibits document the history and development of the university up to the present day. The exhibition focuses on the university's research work and academic teaching from the early days of the University of Freiburg in the 15th century until the present. Students at today's modern university can study more than 60 subjects including almost all areas of natural and applied sciences, the humanities and medicine. Open on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, guided tours on request.
» www.uniseum.deThe Tin Figures Collection
Freiburg's smallest museum, housed in the Schwabentor gate, contains more than 8,000 lovingly painted tin figures recreating scenes from the history of the town and the region, including the Battle of Sempach in 1836.