Stadtluft macht frei is a popular medieval German saying that literally means "the air of the city confers freedom". It synthesizes a phenomenon that several historians have identified in medieval Europe, due to the fact that many European cities were inhabited by free citizens, the bourgeoisie, in contrast to the surrounding agrarian zones, where the servants were under the feudal control of landowning families of the nobility.
<span>One reason for the growth of medieval towns was the principal of "stadluft macht frei" or "town air makes you free" where the serf became a freeman if they stayed in a town or city for a year and a day. This contributed to the growth of medieval cities.</span>
