The University Church, or Universitätskirche, is a Catholic church at the University of Freiburg

University of Freiburg

The University of Freiburg , sometimes referred to in English as the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg, is a public research university located in Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.The university was founded in 1457 by the Habsburg dynasty as the...

. Located on Bertoldstrasse amongst the university buildings, the former Jesuit church (Jesuitenkirche) has been part of the university since the 18th Century.

History

The church was built between 1683 and 1701 according to the plans of the Jesuit architect Heinrich Mayer and was dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. The statues to the left and right of the main portal depict Saint Aloysius Gonzaga and Saint Stanislaus Kostka.

After the abolition of the Society of Jesus

Society of Jesus

The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...

 (1773), the order and its buildings came into the university's possession in 1793. When the Archdiocese of Freiburg was created in 1827, the first archbishop, Bernard Boll, was ordained in this church.

The Church Today

Today the church provides divine service for the community of the university. The church's organ and quality acoustics also ensure a high demand for its use as a concert venue, particularly for university organisations.