Freistadt: Town History, Castle Museum and Thury Valley

Discover Gothic town history

Freistadt was probably founded at the beginning of the 13th century by Babenberg ruler Leopold VI, on an important north–south trade route near the Bohemian border. The almost completely preserved town fortifications date from the Gothic period and bring this early historical setting to life in the townscape. Judging by its surviving fabric, St. John’s Church in the south of the town is Freistadt’s oldest church. The Church of St. Catherine is a five-aisled basilica with a magnificent chancel vault. Together, the fortifications and churches offer different ways to explore Freistadt’s history and architecture.

The Mühlviertler Schlossmuseum Freistadt is spread over nine floors and displays around 21,000 exhibits on folk culture, crafts and eight centuries of town history. It also houses a unique collection of Sandl reverse-glass paintings. Visitors looking for a broad overview will find several historical themes here; the reverse-glass paintings form a distinct collection focus. You can tailor your museum visit to town history and crafts, or make a point of exploring this special collection of paintings as well.

The heights offer different vantage points, too: the museum’s ninth floor leads to an outdoor gallery about 35 metres above the ground. From the castle’s 50 m-high keep, you can enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of Freistadt and the surrounding area. The gallery and the keep offer different highlights: one focuses on the outdoor gallery, the other on the panoramic view.

Trails, the town moat and Thury Valley

The revitalised town moat features winding paths and various themed gardens. Thury Valley is a natural, restored gem in the valley of the Feldaist in Freistadt. Alongside the historic buildings, landscaped paths and a valley setting offer distinct options for exploration.

The municipality of Freistadt has 100 km of hiking trails; the route overview may change, so check the latest information before setting out. The Water Hiking Trail starts and ends at the Wanderstein on the Promenade. The Pferdeeisenbahnweg route connecting to Freistadt’s historic town centre is 9.7 km long. These details help with different planning questions: the Water Hiking Trail has a specified start and finish, while the length given for the Pferdeeisenbahnweg is that of the route to the historic centre. A guided Freistadt Tower Tour focuses on seven towers and two gates and includes a tower climb. Check the booking conditions and availability for this tour in advance.

Experience brewing and blacksmithing

A brewery tour at Freistädter Bier covers the history of the Braucommune, the raw ingredients, the brewing process and interesting facts about beer. Check the booking details in advance. If you’d like to get hands-on, the Braucommune also offers the chance to brew your own beer under expert guidance. Advance arrangements may be required for this hands-on activity.

In Thury Valley, you can forge your own Thurytaler during a blacksmithing demonstration. This offers a different way to engage with local craftsmanship than the brewery tour: here, the focus is on forging something yourself. Booking details for the blacksmithing demonstration may vary.

Getting there and planning your hotel stay

Freistadt can be reached from Linz on the Summerauerbahn railway to Freistadt station. As timetables may change, check the connection before travelling. When searching for a hotel in Freistadt, let your planned activities guide you: consider whether you want to focus on town history and museums, trails and landscapes, or tours and hands-on activities.

Discover more destinations

Freistadt, Bad Zell, Kaltenberg, Unterweißenbach, Sankt Oswald bei Freistadt, Liebenau, Sandl, Sankt Leonhard bei Freistadt, Rainbach im Mühlkreis, Weitersfelden, Waldburg, Unterweitersdorf, Leopoldschlag, Windhaag bei Freistadt, Hagenberg im Mühlkreis, Königswiesen, Pregarten, Grünbach, Hirschbach im Mühlkreis, Neumarkt im Mühlkreis, Gutau, Kefermarkt, Lasberg, Schönau im Mühlkreis, Wartberg ob der Aist, Tragwein, Pierbach, Nadelbach, Wullowitz

Go to the higher-level travel overview: Upper Austria.