Freising: Cathedral Hill, Art and City History

Freising brings together striking architecture, city history and various ways to discover art. Cathedral Hill reflects a long historical development; the city museum, exhibitions at the Schafhof and the Weihenstephan art trail add to the mix. Guided tours explore a range of topics, from the historic citizens’ town to historic breweries. You can plan your stay around the subjects that interest you most.

Freising offers a variety of cultural experiences. When looking for accommodation, consider which of these interests you want to shape your stay.

Cathedral Hill, the Cathedral and City History

Cathedral Hill is a symbol of Freising’s 1,300-year history as a prince-bishop’s town and was a centre of learning for many centuries. Freising Cathedral, with its striking towers, is one of the city’s major attractions. Inside are the mysterious Romanesque Beast Column and Baroque furnishings by the Asam brothers. The Romanesque column and Baroque design bring different art forms together in one place.

On Cathedral Hill, the Diocesan Museum presents art and cultural history exhibitions at the intersection of faith, art and society. Its collection comprises around 50,000 objects from all areas of ecclesiastical art and culture. This makes it a showcase for a broad range of religious art and culture. The Freising City Museum offers a different perspective on the city. Its subjects include prehistoric archaeological finds, precious art and craft objects, and significant documents from the city’s more recent history.

You can also factor rail travel into your visit to the city museum: it is seven minutes from Freising station by train and S-Bahn. Check the connection before travelling, as train services may change.

Art at the Schafhof and on Campus

The Schafhof in Freising hosts year-round exhibitions featuring the work of international and local artists. The Weihenstephan art trail offers a different setting for art: this walk across the university campus in Freising-Weihenstephan takes you past almost 30 works of art. Two walking routes, each about an hour long, make it easy to plan your time. You can choose one of the routes or plan both as separate walks.

If you would like to compare exhibitions with outdoor art, Freising offers two different ways to experience them: the Schafhof focuses on changing exhibitions, while the art trail takes you along a route past works of art. Each of the routes mentioned takes about an hour, so allow that much time for each one.

Guided Tours and Brewing History

Guided tours of Freising take you through the historic citizens’ town and over Cathedral Hill. The programme also includes tours of historic Freising breweries and along waterways. If you are interested in a particular tour, check the current dates in advance, as specific schedules may vary.

A brewery described as probably the oldest in the world is located on Weihenstephan Hill. Its beer draws visitors from far afield to the Bräustüberl. Brewing history thus offers a distinct way to explore Freising, while tours of historic breweries complement the guided tour programme.

Riverside Walks and a Garden Trail

A walk to Weihenstephan Hill can also be combined with other sights: the route passes the rose garden and follows Fürstendamm, a nature trail along the Moosach. A circular route ends at the Staudensichtungsgarten, a teaching and trial garden for perennials and woody plants. The garden is known for its great variety of plants and vibrant colours. The art trail and countryside paths offer different ways to spend your stay if you would like to explore the outdoors as well as the city’s historical and cultural sights.

Discover more destinations: Zolling, Rudelzhausen, Eching, Attenkirchen, Langenbach, Allershausen, Wang, Hohenkammer.

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