Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Schlossmuseum
( www.museum-freistadt.at ; Schlosshof 2; adult/child €3/1; 9am-noon & 2-5pm Mon-Fri, 2-5pm Sat & Sun) The
city's 14th-century castle, with a square tower topped by a tapering red-tiled roof, har-
bours this museum, exhibiting 600 works of engraved painted glass. Climb the 50m
Bergfried tower for far-reaching views over Freistadt.
MUSEUM
BUYING INTO YOUR FAVOURITE BEER
Freistadt is a Braucommune , a town where the citizens actually own their brewery - when you buy a house, you
automatically buy a share of your favourite tipple. Ownership is limited to the 149 households within the town
walls, but if you have the spare change and really like your beer, properties sell for around €350,000. Realistic-
ally, the brewery cannot be taken over, as the business would have to buy the whole town in order to take con-
trol.
The arrangement started way back in 1777 when the brewery opened. In the ensuing centuries the lucky own-
ers would receive their share of the profits in liquid form, which would be distributed in Eimer Bier containers
holding 56L. Each owner might get up to 130 containers! Nowadays, for better or worse, owners get a cash pay-
ment of equivalent value (which, on Friday and Saturday nights, often goes straight back to the brewery). Brew-
ery tours will run from April 2014 at 10.30am Monday to Saturday.
Practically every bar in town serves the local brew, so it's not hard to see why the brewery remains a profit-
able business. If you'd like to learn more about Freistadt beer and stock up, nip into the brewery shop
( www.freistaedter-bier.at ; Brauhausstrasse 2;
8am-6pm Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm Sat & Sun).
Sleeping & Eating
The following recommendations (apart from Camping Freistadt) are in the old town.
Self-caterers can buy supplies at Billa (Eisengasse 14;
7.15am-7pm Mon-Fri, to 6pm Sat) .
Pension Pirklbauer
( 724 40; www.pension-pirklbauer.at ; Höllgasse 2-4; s/d €26/44) Nudging up against medieval Linzer-
tor is this charming Pension . Christine makes her guests feel at home, whether on the
rooftop terrace or in the country-cottage-style rooms with pinewood, floral fabrics and
squeaky-clean bathrooms.
PENSION
Hotel Goldener Adler
( 721 12; www.hotels-freistadt.at ; Salzgasse 1; s/d/tr €53/84/108; ) Polished stone slabs, wrought-
iron banisters and vaulted passages crammed with antique wagons and spinning wheels
hint at this hotel's 700-year history. Unwind in the sauna and whirlpool, or tuck into the
famous beer-marinated Bohemian pork shoulder in the beer garden (mains €8 to €13).
HISTORIC HOTEL €€
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