"Living monuments" in the Mühlviertel

The medieval brewing town of Freistadt is characterised by the charm of small alleyways, bay windows and courtyards combined with the urban advantages of a district capital. Surrounded by the town walls and gates, the old town centre, most of which is a listed building, offers a wide range of sights: towers and gates, alleyways and squares, nooks and crannies.

After the first documented mention of a fortress around 1274, today's four-winged complex dates back to a Gothic castle with foundation walls from the 12th century. Strategically ideally positioned on a rocky massif, it overlooks large parts of today's Freistadt district and the Aist Valley, whose importance as a main trade route in the Middle Ages has largely been forgotten.

The castle complex of Reichenstein, built around 1300, is situated on a steeply sloping rocky spur in a basin-like extension of the narrow Waldaist valley. Visitors can expect a varied programme of art and culture. A visit to the modern permanent exhibition takes visitors on a journey through time in three stages, from the High Middle Ages to the early modern period.

Schlägl Abbey is the spiritual centre of the upper Mühlviertel region. In its more than 800-year history, the region and the monastery have grown together, resulting in a state of natural symbiosis and solidarity today. The pastoral tasks form the basis for constant contact with the people. Schlägl Abbey is an important economic factor in the preservation of the cultural heritage.