The Whale House

The Whale House is a residential building in Freiburg's old town featuring late Gothic design with a crimson facade, decorated windows, and stone frames. Its exterior displays artistic friezes showing ancient scholars and putti.

Jakob Villinger von Schönenberg constructed the building between 1514 and 1516, naming it after his coat of arms which featured three whales. The architectural style reflects the late Gothic period of its construction.

The house served as home to Dutch philosopher Erasmus of Rotterdam during his stay from 1529 to 1531. His residence here made the building a meeting point for humanist thought and intellectual exchange of that era.

The building is located at Franziskanerstraße 5 in the old town and currently serves as a bank branch. Visitors can observe the artistically designed facade from outside, particularly the detailed friezes and distinctive red masonry.

The building served as a filming location for the 1977 horror film Suspiria, where its spiral decorations and distinctive architecture appeared on screen. The film introduced this Gothic structure to a wider international audience.

Location: Freiburg im Breisgau

GPS coordinates: 47.99649,7.85077

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:45