Haus zum Walfisch (The Whale House), Freiburg

The Whale House forms a part of a complex that was once comprised of 17 separate structures, with its front façade facing Franziskanerstraße and the rear abutting Gauchstraße, close to Kartoffelmarkt square.

The Whale House gained international recognition through its appearance in Dario Argento's 1977 horror film "Suspiria," where it portrayed the Dance Academy, serving as the central location in the movie.

In the past, the location where the Whale House now stands was occupied by three farmsteads, each measuring approximately 100x50 feet (about 30x15 meters): Haus Zum Blattfuß, Haus Zum Sampson, and Haus Zum Ofenhaus. The house's construction can be traced back to Jakob Villinger von Schönenberg (1480–1529), who held a house in Barfüßergasse (now Franziskanergasse) from 1506. Jakob, possibly originating from Sélestat in Alsace or Freiburg itself, served as Emperor Maximilian I's treasurer general from 1510.

The name "Haus zum Walfisch" is recorded in the Herrschaftsrechtsbuch (book of individual properties) from 1565, even though the numbering of houses in Freiburg was only established in 1806. Some suggest that the name may be linked to the biblical "Story of Jonah and the Whale."

Adding to its historical significance, the façade of the Whale House bears witness to the humanist Erasmus of Rotterdam, who resided in the Villinger house after escaping from Basel. However, upon his arrival in Christmas 1529, the house remained unfinished. This remarkable building, with its intriguing history and architectural significance, continues to be an integral part of Freiburg's heritage.