Freyung, Bavaria

For the square in central Vienna, see Freyung (Vienna).

Freyung
Freyung Freyung
Coat of arms of Freyung Coat of arms
Freyung
Location of Freyung within Freyung-Grafenau district 250px
Coordinates:
Country	Germany
State	Bavaria
Admin. region	Niederbayern
District	Freyung-Grafenau
Government
• Mayor	Dr. Olaf Heinrich (CSU)
Area
• Total	48.64 km2 (18.78 sq mi)
Population (2013-12-31)
• Total	6,955
• Density	140/km2 (370/sq mi)
Time zone	CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes	94078
Dialling codes	08551, 08558
Vehicle registration	FRG
Website	www.freyung.de

Freyung is a town in Bavaria, Germany, capital of the Freyung-Grafenau district. It is situated in the Bavarian Forest mountain range, near the border with Austria and the Czech Republic.

Geography

The town is situated on the southeastern rim of the Bavarian Forest National Park near the confluence of the Saußbach and Reschbach creeks. The town centre is located about 33 km (21 mi) north of Passau.

History

File:Schloss Wolfstein.JPG

Wolfstein Castle

About 1200 the Passau bishop Wolfger von Erla had Wolfstein Castle erected to control the surrounding etstates he had received from the hands of the Hohenstaufen emperor Henry VI. A settlement was laid out beneath the castle which in 1301 was mentioned as Purchstol zu Wolferstein. The later name Freiung denoted the fact that the first settlers were exempt from taxes (cf. Freihaus). The nearby village of Kreuzberg received market rights in 1354, which were transferred to Freyung in 1523.

When the Prince-Bishopric of Passau was secularised in 1803, Freyung passed to the newly established Electorate of Salzburg, but upon the 1805 Peace of Pressburg was incorporated into the Kingdom of Bavaria. It received city rights in 1953.

Twin towns

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Germany

Freyung is twinned with

• Vimperk, Czech Republic
• Seewalchen am Attersee, Austria

Notable people

• Severin Freund (born 1988), ski jumper
• Shkemb Miftari (born 1993), footballer