Saturday University in Freiburg: Discover the cultural history of the city!

Saturday University in Freiburg: Discover the cultural history of the city!

The Saturday University at the University of Freiburg has established itself over 36 semesters as an important educational offering that appeals to citizens of all generations. On October 17, 2025, the start of a new series of lectures took place in the foyer of College Building I, in lecture hall 1010. The event is aimed at students as well as working people and pensioners. Participants can take part in the lectures, which begin every Saturday at 11:15 a.m. and last one and a half hours, without prior registration and at no cost.

Impressive speakers were invited to the first session. Prof. Dr. Thomas Zotz spoke about the Freiburg Martinstor, while Prof. Dr. Henrike Manuwald presented an analysis of the “Malterer carpet”. Julia Wolrab, on the other hand, discussed the “forgotten coat” on the Wiwilí Bridge. These lectures offer in-depth historical and literary insights into the city of Freiburg, ranging from the Middle Ages to the present day. Loud uni-freiburg.de The events have already covered a wide range of topics in the past, including the digital revolution, the cultural asset of wine and democratic attitudes.

Programs and topics

According to the information from vhs-freiburg.de The topic for the fall/winter semester 2025/2026 will be “Freiburg en détail: A cultural history in objects”. This theme is based on the British Museum's “A History of the World in 100 Objects” project and is tied to striking objects from Freiburg's history. Participants can look forward to lectures from experts from various disciplines, including archeology and art history.

Special objects that will be presented include archaeological excavation finds, a city gate from the Zähringer period, stained glass windows from the Freiburg Minster as well as monuments and the sculpture “Jump and Twist” by Dennis Oppenheim. This diverse program, which will be published from October on the Studium generale and adult education centers websites, as well as in leaflets, ensures a lively examination of Freiburg's cultural landscape.

Digital presence and future

The Saturday University lectures are now recorded, a technical improvement that was implemented during the corona pandemic. These recordings are made available on the university's media portal and show the participants' great interest in digital formats. On average, around 300 listeners attend the events, which underlines the popularity and influence of Saturday University. With the support of the Volksbank Freiburg and the Badische Zeitung, the university wants to ensure that science is accessible and offers orientation.

The Saturday University concept is always based on current social issues and needs, which enables speakers from the University of Freiburg and other institutions to share a wide range of knowledge. This means that the Saturday University remains an open showcase for science, offering the population a valuable platform for education and exchange.