View into the Fischergasse in Freising.

Freising

Bishops, brewing and bear-related miracles

Freising’s Altstadt (old town) is located at the foot of two hills. One of these hills, the Domberg, is the site of the cathedral in which Pope Benedict XVI was ordained in 1951; perched atop the other is the former Weihenstephan Abbey, a Benedictine monastery that boasts one of the oldest breweries in the world. 

Freising: Our tips for a great excursion

- The history of Freising
- Freising: Old Town and Places of Interest
- History and historical connections between Freising and Munich
- Freising: How to get there from Munich

 

The history of Freising

Founded in 739 A.D., Freising is the oldest town in Upper Bavaria. The prince-bishops of Freising ruled from the Domberg for more than a millennium, starting with Frankish travelling bishop Corbinian who became the first bishop and later patron saint of the diocese. According to legend, when Corbinian was attacked by a bear as he crossed the Alps, he managed to tame the wild animal so completely that it eventually carried his luggage willingly. The bear can still be seen on the town’s coat of arms to this day.

Freising: Old Town and Places of Interest

The Romanesque cathedral, with its four-nave crypt and Bestiensäule (“pillar of beasts”), was given a Baroque makeover by the artist Asam brothers in the 18th century and is still one of the town’s key attractions, along with the prince-bishops’ Residence (town palace) that surrounds it and the Diözesanmuseum (Diocesan Museum).

However, Freising is not known only for its ecclesiastical history, and picturesque old town with magnificent Burgher townhouses and craftsmen’s houses. Freising’s universities, focused on nutrition, land usage and the environment, have institutes dotted around the ruins of the Benedictine abbey on Weihenstephaner Berg.

Among the many sites of interest in Weihenstephan are the show gardens of the Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences and the Bräustüberl traditional Bavarian restaurant which is part of the Weihenstephan Bavarian State Brewery, one of the oldest breweries in the world.

 

History and historical connections between Freising and Munich

Freising’s close links with Munich’s history date back to the birth of the city: Bishop Otto of Freising, who was perhaps the most famous philosopher of history in medieval times, became involved in a dispute with Heinrich der Löwe – Henry the Lion, Duke of Saxony and Bavaria – concerning the rights to tolls from the salt trade.

The Lion burned down the trade bridge across the Isar river in the Bishop’s jurisdiction virtually overnight, thereby monopolising the revenue from the salt trade by diverting salt wagons across the Isar at the point where Munich’s Ludwigsbrücke (Ludwig bridge) stands today. In his “Augsburger Einung” ruling dated 14 June 1158, Emperor Barbarossa sanctioned Henry’s actions, but also compelled the Duke to pay one-third of all the revenue to Freising.

It was the first document to record Munich as a name, and the date on which it was issued is considered the birth date of the City of Munich.

 

Freising: How to get there from Munich

Train or S-Bahn (S1) connection: about 20 - 45 minutes. More information under bahn.de

Car: about 30 - 40 minutes via the A92 motorway

 

 

Text: München Tourismus; Photos: Rainer Lehmann
Neuschwanstein Castle in the surrounding region of Munich.

Hiking guide

Royal wanderlust

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Landscape near Kochel am See

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Two hiker are on a mountain ridge near Munich.

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Bathe, banter, bike

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Hitler's tea room

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Nymphenburg Palace in Munich at sunset.

Royal Munich

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Under your own steam

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Into the snow!

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Lakes & Mountains
Boat trip at the Königssee with panoramic view of the Alps in the surroundings of Munich.

A boat ride to a natural paradise

Königssee

Emerald-green water at the foot of the legendary Watzmann.

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Lake Chiemsee with the Bavarian Alps in the background.

The Bavarian Sea

Chiemsee

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Zugspitze

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Watzmann

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Windsurfer on the Walchensee in the hinterland of Munich.

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Evening atmosphere with sunset at Ammersee near Munich

From Utting to Herrsching

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A sailing boat on the Tegernsee near Munich

Like God in Bavaria

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Recharge your batteries

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Visit the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and relax on the journey to beautiful Lake Wolfgang.

Book now from 58 €

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