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17-507: The low mountain range covers an area of about 20 x 30 km and lies roughly within the triangle formed by the towns of České Budějovice , Freistadt and Gmünd . Its highest mountain is the Viehberg near Sandl which reaches 1,112 metres, but another 16 mountains exceed 1,000 metres in height. Of these, 13 lie on Austrian soil and 3 in Bohemia. The area of the mountains on

34-519: A large collection of verre églomisé (glass decorated with a layer of engraved gold). Outside the Böhmertor (Bohemian Gate) stands the little 15th century Liebfrauenkirche with beautiful "pillars of light" of 1484. Schloss Freistadt Freistadt Castle ( German : Schloss Freistadt ) in Upper Austrian Mühlviertel was built, together with its bergfried , between 1363 and 1398, and

51-448: Is a small Austrian town in the state of Upper Austria in the region Mühlviertel . With a population of approximately 7,500 residents, it is a trade centre for local villages. Freistadt is the economic centre of a district of the same name District Freistadt . The nearest sizeable cities are Linz , the capital of Upper Austria , about 40 km in the south, and České Budějovice , the capital of Southern Bohemia , about 60 km in

68-534: The Hussite Wars and the numerous border feuds of the 15th century the castle acted as a strong bulwark at the edge of the town. In the 16th century it was significantly remodelled, the plans for the rebuilding of the south wing in 1588 being drawn up by architects Antonio Cerisora, Ambrosio Solari and Mert Pogner. Around 1594 the castle acted as a refuge for the surrounding population during the Turkish Wars. Only once

85-664: The Czech side of the border is 162 km². Their highest point is the Kamenec ( Steinberg , 1,072  m n.m. ) in the Pohorská foothills and in the municipality of Pohorská Ves . The Freiwald is a major part of the natural region of the Freiwald and Weinsberg Forest . The Lower Austrian part of the Freiwald is defined as a rural subregion ( Teilraum ) according to the conservation concept of

102-596: The border re-opened the trails were waymarked again and tourist infrastructure built. About three quarters of the region is covered in coniferous and deciduous forest. An almost unabating wind builds up in the autumn often into strong gales. In the Gratzen Mountains rise the Lainsitz , Malše , Pohořský potok , Strobnitz and Schwarzau rivers. Freistadt Freistadt ( German pronunciation: [ˈfʁaɪ̯ˌʃtat] , lit.   ' Freetown ' )

119-507: The locality was part of Gau Oberdonau but in 1945 was restored to Bundesland Upper Austria. Like many municipalities of Upper Austria, Freistadt issued Notgeld for collectors in 1920. The main entrance to the Old Town is through the Linzer Tor (Linz Gate). The spacious Hauptplatz (main square) is surrounded by painted fronts of renovated burghers' houses. On the highest point of Freistadt stands

136-549: The north. The area surrounding Freistadt came under the dominion of the Bavarian Duchy in the seventh century. Freistadt was founded before 1220. The Babenberg Duke Leopold VI passed through the area in 1225. The earliest mention of Frienstat is in a document from 1241, but in 1277, Rudolf von Habsburg referred to Vreinstat in another document. Its position separated the Habsburg and Bohemian lands, and it stood at crossroads of

153-573: The parish church of St Catherine (14th-15th century, remodelled in Baroque style in 1690 and rebuilt in Gothic style in 1967); note in particular the interlaced ribbed vaulting in the roof of the choir. At the northeastern corner of the square a gateway leads to the 14th century Schloss Freistadt , with a 50m/165 ft high keep which now houses the Mühlviertler Schlossmuseum, a local museum with

170-466: The residence of the lord's Pfleger . The other district office for the Barony of Freistadt was Schloss Haus (from the 18th century). With the simultaneous expansion of the remaining fortifications, the castle strengthened the defensive capability of the town. Nevertheless, the castle was the weakest point in its lines of defence. Entry to the castle was achieved then as now in two ways. On one side, access

187-713: The state. After die Wende , a nature park was established called the Novohradské hory with many natural attractions like the Terčino údolí , Žofínský prales (Sophien-Urwald) and Hojná Voda (Heilbrunn). The region has remained largely unspoilt. As a result of its location on the Iron Curtain , the German Bohemians were forced out of the area after the Second World War and it remained inaccessible to tourists. After

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204-591: The valuable salt and iron trade route, which had operated from prehistoric times through the Middle Ages. The outer and inner walls, towers and gates of the old city, built mainly between 1363 and 1393, still exist today. Freistadt suffered French incursions in 1805 and 1809, during the Napoleonic Wars. Since 1918, Freistadt has been part of Bundesland Upper Austria. Following the Anschluss with Germany on 13 March 1938,

221-665: The work, and in 1397/98 the new castle and its bergfried were finished. Several improvements continued until 1440 and, in the late 15th century, the height of the bergfried was raised. The schloss replaced the old castle in Salzgasse street, the Altenhof (today: the Salzhof ). From then on the new castle was used by the territorial princes as an administrative centre for the Barony and District of Freistadt (including inter alia Leopoldschlag , Neumarkt , Schenkenfelden and Rainbach ) and as

238-404: Was a "back door" ( Hintertürl ) that led from the castle into the zwinger and over the town moat out of the town; something that had been planned even at the design stage. This enabled residents of the castle to leave the town incognito, but the gate also posed a security risk, which is why it had been bricked up in the 15th century. In 1584, Hans Christoph von Gera pressed for the opening of

255-554: Was gained through a gateway to the main courtyard and, on the other, through another gateway at the end of the Schlossgasse leading from the Böhmergasse into the outer courtyard. The castle itself was further separated from the town by a moat and drawbridge. Even the adjoining townhouses were not allowed to have a door into the outer courtyard. The castle was also protected from the town and possible attacks from that direction. During

272-400: Was the castle plundered by besieging troops, in 1626, when rioting peasants captured the town and the castle. The castle's governor and three Capuchin monks were locked in the castle chapel and mistreated. Liturgical objects were stolen and all the boxes and chests broken open and looted. In the course of time there was also opposition between the town and the castle. One sticking point

289-662: Was used to reinforce the fortifications of the town of Freistadt . Today the castle houses the tax office and the Mühlviertel Castle Museum . The building of the castle was begun in 1363 in order to bolster the town's fortifications, Duke Rudolph IV the Founder issuing the orders for its construction. Until it was completed, all the manner of estates within the jurisdiction ( Landgericht ) of Freistadt were taxed: homes, land, fiefs and farmsteads. After Rudolph's death in 1365, his brothers, Leopold and Albert , continued with

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