Breisgau

Breisgau is the name of an area in southwest Germany, placed between the river Rhine and the foothills of the Black Forest around Freiburg im Breisgau in the state of Baden-W?rttemberg. The district Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald, which partly consists of the Breisgau, is named after that area. Parts of the Breisgau are also situated in the political districts of Freiburg im Breisgau and of Emmendingen.

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In earlier times, the Breisgau was known as Breisachgau, meaning the shire around the town of Breisach on the right bank of the Rhine.

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The earliest historically attested inhabitants were celtic tribes. In Roman times, the area was part of the province of Germania superior. After the fall of the limes in 260, the area was settled by the Alemanni. In the 12th century, Freiburg was founded by the counts of Z?hringen. Until 1797, the area was part of the Vorl?nde, the area in southwest Germany ruled by the Austrian Habsburgs, but the Breisgau, along with the rest of the Vorl?nde, was then ceded by them to the former Duke of Modena, a relation, as compensation for his loss of his hereditary lands to the French-created Cisalpine Republic. In 1805, by the Treaty of Pressburg, the area was ceded to the Grand Duchy of Baden.

Rhine: At 1,320 km (820 miles), the Rhine (German Rhein, French Rhin, Dutch Rijn, Romansch: Rein) is one of the longest rivers in Europe. The name of the Rhine in all these languages comes from Celtic Renos, literally "that which flows", from the Proto-Indo-European root *rei- ("to flow, run"), which also ...

Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald: Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald is a Kreis (district) in the south of Baden-W?rttemberg, Germany. Neighboring districts are Emmendingen, Schwarzwald-Baar, Waldshut, L?rrach and the French d?partements Haut-Rhin and Bas-Rhin. The district-free city Freiburg is surrounded by the district....

Emmendingen: Emmendingen (zip code: 79312) is a town in Baden-W?rttemberg, capital of the district Emmendingen, with 25620 inhabitants (March 2005). It is located at the Elz River....