History Of Freistadt

History Of Freistadt - Austria Travel Guide - By Travel S Helper

A municipality in Upper Austria, Freistadt is situated near the Czech Republic border. Originating in the thirteenth century, Freistadt has a long and culturally significant history.

Freistadt was founded before 1220 by Babenberg family Duke Leopold VI. History books state that in 1225, Duke Leopold VI traveled through the area. Being a walled town on the commercial route that connected the Danube and Bohemia regions, Freistadt was strategically important. It was essential in enabling exchange of commodities such salt and iron. It was also a border town, dividing the Habsburg and Bohemian domains.

Mostly built between 1363 and 1393, Freistadt’s fortifications include double walls, moats, towers, and gates. Amazingly, these buildings have survived quite well up to this point. One of the best examples of medieval architecture in Austria, these defenses are renowned for their remarkable preservation.

Over its historical record, Freistadt has had several sieges and attacks. Distinguished events include the Hussite invasion of 1422, the Swedish invasion of 1645, the French invasions of 1805 and 1809, and the Nazi occupation of 1938.

Freistadt has a rich cultural and creative history from the many great painters, sculptors, composers, and writers who have called it home. The museum also has a large collection of reverse glass paintings that showcase the regional traditional craft.

City founding

The exact founding date of the city is still unknown because the records that are now in existence have little or no information. Generally speaking, Freistadt was carefully designed by Leopold VI of Babenberg, dubbed “the Glorious,” while he was the Duke of Austria, about the year 1225. In this project, a settlement already in place was to be expanded north along the significant commerce route from Enns. Leopold VI gave Freistadt many privileges to guarantee its economic survival.Freistadt was first mentioned as “Frienstat” in 1241. Then in 1277, King Rudolf of Habsburg granted the city, then called “Vreinstat,” the right to recover and amass land as well as the duty to keep up the streets.

Given its advantages, Freistadt became a wealthy and prosperous city very quickly in the fourteenth century, and it eventually became the center of the Mühlviertel region’s economy. Food and wealth were obtained by the advantageous location along the important trade route known as Goldener Steig. Fish from Bohemia in the south and iron and salt from southern Upper Austria were the main goods handled in the northern region.The old castle was expanded in the fifteenth century and converted into a salt warehouse—now a salt farm.Freistadt steadily increased in wealth throughout this time and was able to hold onto its advantages over the neighboring towns.

The city’s prosperity was protected by significant fortification of the original walls in the late 14th and mid-15th centuries. The northeastern part of the city was also home to the still-standing Freistadt Castle and city walls.Along its walls of fortification, the city built towers that were essential defensive features.Using drawbridges, the Böhmertor in the north and the Linzertor in the south provided horse-drawn carriages with the only points of access during the Middle Ages.

Freistadt has had the good fortune to escape major destruction brought about by war throughout its history.A siege during the Hussite Wars (1424–1432) destroyed the Frauenkirche and the suburb.Peasant forces attacked the city in 1596 and 1626; the Bavarians besieged it in 1610.Still, the city was severely damaged by the fires.Important fires that devastated the city in 1507 and 1516 destroyed all residential buildings as well as the lavish interior decorations of the parish church. The remote castle and the suburban houses were the only buildings that were untouched. Later on, mantle walls—also known as fire walls—were added to the homes and are still visible today.

The booming commercial connections at that period can be credited with the Protestantism’s quick adoption in Freistadt. Over half of Freistadt’s people identified as adherents of this religion by 1610.Thanks probably to Hans Schlaffer’s initial efforts, the Anabaptist movement of the radical Reformation also founded a colony in the city. Expulsion of all Protestants was decreed in 1627 during the Counter-Reformation era that followed the Second Upper Austrian Peasants’ War and Emperor Ferdinand II’s victory over the Protestants. Sadly, not much is known about their later residences.The city battled for a very long time to make up for this enormous resource loss.

Turning point in 1627 and the period up to the First World War

An important turning point in the city’s history was reached during the Thirty Years’ War.After the Bohemian boundary was changed, Freistadt lost its privileges and saw its importance as a frontier bulwark and commercial center erode.After the Thirty Years’ War ended, the economic circumstances were very bad.Moreover, the collapse in trade, together with the consequences of absolutism—which resulted in the loss of political self-government—and mercantilism—which reduced the role of guilds as manufactories rose in prominence—all reduced the importance of the city.Situated strategically along a major commercial route, the city had several benefits. More precisely, Freistadt remained the route used by the salt trade to Bohemia. This strategic position was essential in keeping the city prosperous and averting economic downturn.Freistadt thus failed to recover the prominence it had before the Thirty Years’ War.

After the Freistadt brewing society was founded in 1770, a new brewery was built in 1777.From 1850, Freistadt has been the administrative hub of the same-named district.Originally founded in 1862 with the intention of stimulating economic expansion, the Freistadt Trade Fair is currently known as Messe Mühlviertel.Beginning in 1832, the horse-drawn Linz-Budweis railway ran outside the city.The Summerau Railway opened in November 1872, at the same time as a rail station was built in Freistadt.

The Piarists ran a German and a Latin school from 1761 to 1870.The founding and ongoing operation of a school by the Poor School Sisters of Our Lady since 1852 is proof of the town’s development into a center of education.The Marianists came in 1900 and built a sizable educational complex on the outskirts of the city. At this site, they still run a private school.Freistadt has had a grammar school since 1867; the lower level was founded first, and the upper level in 1871.

From the First World War to the present

Freistadt was a prisoner of war camp built during World War I especially to hold Russian soldiers. With 91 barracks, the camp could hold up to 20,000 inmates.Radicalization of political parties occurred throughout the interwar years, reflecting the political environment in Austria. Remarkably, there were no instances of violent violence during the 1934 civil war.

The creation of new businesses enhanced the economic climate, while public sector investments in infrastructure development—such as street paving and canalization—were essential in promoting economic growth.Originally called the “Erzherzog Karl Barracks,” the “Tilly Barracks” were built in 1937.

When the Second World War broke out, the Wehrmacht chose to reinforce the garrison already in Freistadt by sending over 1,000 men there.The opposition organization New Free Austria has attracted several Freistadt inhabitants. Sadly, in October 1944 their confidence was betrayed, which finally led to their trial and execution on May 1, 1945.The occasion is remembered with a monument in front of the Linzertor.

Even though three military hospitals were located nearby in the later phases of the war, Freistadt was spared from bombings all through the fighting.On May 7, 1945, American tanks unexpectedly entered the city.Arriving on May 13, the Red Army coexisted harmoniously with the American soldiers in the city till May 23. Later on, they moved to the other side of the railroad line.The Soviet troops occupied private homes to announce their presence as occupying forces. The commandant’s office moved into the Hagleitner house on the main square.About 100,000 refugees were relocated to the city and put up in different camps in 1945.Over 12,000 refugees were accommodated in the city during its peak.Lack of investment in the years after the war meant that the economic recovery remained sluggish.

With the Soviet occupying forces’ exit and the state treaty of May 15, 1955, Freistadt’s investment environment underwent a dramatic change. Often referred to as the “economic miracle,” Freistadt was able to benefit from Austria’s economic expansion. The population has grown considerably to about 6,000 people. One reason for the present economic recovery is the creation of new enterprises and the growth of capacities inside already-existing ones. These elements working together have boosted economic growth. The money allocated went toward building roads and homes, as well as installing sewage systems, water pipes, and a sewage treatment facility. The historic district should be revitalized with an emphasis on growing the tourism sector. A hospital opened in 1947 and the sports facilities and swimming pools were renovated, among other infrastructural projects. The educational scene in Freistadt had a tremendous upsurge between 1956 and 1971 when four new school buildings were built.

The 1977 Freistadt filming of the television miniseries “Holocaust” was broadcast in 1979. Shots concentrated on events that took place at the concentration camp of Theresienstadt.

Early in the 1990s, a cutting edge hospital was built in the city’s southern section.A farmer working a field next to the Fuchsenhof homestead made an amazing discovery in the late autumn of 1997. Six thousand coins and other highly valuable silver items were among the discoveries.Official public unveiling of the relic, which is thought to be associated with a talented goldsmith, took place in 2004. Then it was housed in the Linz Castle Museum.

Flooding close to the Feldaist river resulted from the excessive rain during the 2002 Danube floods.In 2003, the Salzhof received a makeover to become a cultural and event hub with an exhibition and event hall added.In 2004 the city built the new multipurpose sports hall.

Many ancient town buildings were restored and their lighting fittings were upgraded in time for the 2013 state exposition.The B 310’s traffic congestion is predicted to ease with the opening of the S 10 – Freistadt bypass on November 15, 2014.

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