Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
THE MÜHLVIERTEL
The Mühlviertel is a remote, beautiful region of mist-enshrouded hills, thick woodlands
and valleys speckled with chalk-white farmhouses. The scenery (as well as the beer and
goulash!) is redolent of the not-so-distant Czech Republic. This offbeat corner of Upper
Austria is known for its Gothic architecture, warm-hearted locals, and total peace and
quiet.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Freistadt
07942 / POP 7470
Just 10km from the Czech border as the bird flies, Freistadt has some of the best-preserved
medieval fortifications in Austria, and the beer isn't bad either; indeed locals are so pas-
sionate about
Freistädter
brews that they avoid places where it isn't on tap. Beer aside,
pleasure can be had by strolling through the town's narrow streets to gate towers and the
gardens that have taken root in the original moat.
Sights
Pick up the
City Walk
brochure from the tourist office, which pinpoints key attractions.
Stadtmauern
Topping the must-see list are the sturdy 14th-century city walls, complete with gate towers
such as the medieval
Linzertor
and skeletal
Böhmertor
, which reflect Freistadt's past need for
strong defences as an important staging point on the salt route to Bohemia. The moat en-
circling the town is now given over to gardens and allotments.
HISTORIC SITE
Hauptplatz
Freistadt's focal point is the elongated Hauptplatz, jammed between the old city walls. The
square has some ornate buildings and a Gothic
Stadtpfarrkirche
(Parish Church; dawn-dusk)
capped with a baroque tower. Some of the houses along Waaggasse, just west of the
Hauptplatz, are embellished with sgraffito mural designs.
HISTORIC SITE
