Freystadt: Market Square, Towers and Trails

Market Square, City Gates and Maria Hilf

The Hospital of Freystadt, an important cultural monument of supraregional significance dating from the 13th century, stands by the southern city gate. The two gate towers also define the appearance of the historic market square. Visitors who explore the towers of the Upper and Lower Gates and climb to the upper level can enjoy a view over the square and the Schwarzach Valley. Check before your trip whether access is currently possible.

The Powder Tower, a surviving part of Freystadt’s former fortifications, stands in Betzgarten. Another architectural feature is the Maria Hilf pilgrimage church. Its gleaming green dome is framed by four towers and crowned by a gilded Madonna. The church also features Asam stucco: in Freystadt, the Tour de Baroque passes both the Historic Market Square and the church.

The Upper Gate Tower regularly hosts exhibitions in spring and autumn under the theme “Art in the Tower.” If you would like to include a visit, check the current dates. This lets you include buildings and exhibitions in your plans without devoting the whole day solely to a stroll through the old town.

Hiking and Cycling Around Freystadt

The Tour de Baroque runs from Neumarkt in der Oberpfalz via Freystadt to Berching, then follows the former Ludwig-Donau-Main Canal back to the starting point. In Freystadt, the market square and the Asam stucco in Maria Hilf are two of the route’s listed stops. Freystadt is also a stage destination on the Five Rivers Cycle Route.

If you want to explore on foot, you can start the “Off to Sulzbürg” hike at the market square. To the southeast, it follows the waymarking on the Jurasteig–Seenland spur. The “Blue Stripe,” also known as the Berchinger Way, offers a different time commitment: this hiking route is 58 kilometers long, and its first stage ends in Freystadt. You can therefore choose between a hike starting at the market square and a longer tour that has Freystadt as its stage destination.

For a nature view, there is a seven-meter-high birdwatching tower at the edge of the Schwarzach floodplain meadows. From there, you can look out over the nature reserve. If you would also like to plan a seasonal day of swimming, the natural swimming area is two kilometers from the town center. It has a swimming area, a children’s playground, a beach volleyball court, fitness equipment and a table tennis table. These facilities are freely accessible and free to use. As the natural swimming area is seasonal, check whether it is currently open before visiting.

Choose a Holiday Apartment to Suit Your Plans

When looking for a holiday apartment, it helps to first sort out what you would like to do on your vacation: will you focus on the historic market square and its buildings, or would you like to include hiking and cycling routes? You can also consider the natural swimming area as a seasonal option. The market square is the starting point for the “Off to Sulzbürg” hike, while the natural swimming area is two kilometers from the town center. These reference points can help you compare the location of a holiday apartment against your own plans for each day.

The Wider Area: Neumarkt In Der Oberpfalz

The wider destination of Neumarkt In Der Oberpfalz offers a broader sense of the landscape: Neumarkt district lies in the northeast of Altmühltal Nature Park and in the Bayerischer Jura landscape area.

Discover more destinations: Postbauer-Heng, Dietfurt An Der Altmühl, Pyrbaum, Breitenbrunn, Parsberg, Neumarkt In Der Oberpfalz, Deining, Mühlhausen.

Back to the wider travel overview: Neumarkt In Der Oberpfalz.