Freising

Freising is a city in Bavaria, 40km (25 mi) North of Munich. Freising is known as the historical center of the Catholic Church in Bavaria and as the location of the world's oldest continuously operating brewery. The campus of Munich University located in Freising offers the world's only regular university course for brewery, including post graduate research into chemistry and biology of beer brewing. Due to the faculties large international undergraduate and post graduate student body, most master brewers in the world's major breweries have a professional or educational relationship to Freising. Freising is the closest place of touristic interest to Munich Airport.

Understand
Though archaeological finds show that the area was settled since the Bronze Age, there is no evidence that there was continuous settlement until the 8th century, when Saint Corbinian settled at a shrine on Weihenstephan hill in 724. Corbinian was a forerunner during the christianization of Southern Germany and first bishop of Freising. Freising quickly became an important town and religious center in Bavaria, and therefore emperor Otto III granted the settlement city rights in 996. The town's significance declined sharply, though, after Duke Henry the Lion destroyed Freisings Isar bridges and salt works in 1158 to boost his own Isar crossing in Munich, which by the time was a mere toll station. However, the prince-bishopric of Freising kept its independence and stayed the religious center of Bavaria until the beginning of the 19th century, when it was politically merged with Bavaria.

During World War II Freising was only of minor importance and as it housed a military hospital for foreign officers was therefore considered safe from attacks. The only major air raid was conducted shortly before the end of the war on 18 April 1945 targeting the cities station and a vehicle factory. On 29.04.1945 Freising surrendered to the approaching American troops (after a brief artillery bombardment), though the retreating SS managed to blow up the cities main bridge in an attempt to delay the American advance.

Freisings economical resurgence and major growth began with the planning and construction of Munich Airport, which was opened in 1992 bordering the city. Today Freising is economically healthy, with one of the highest residency growth rates and lowest unemployment rates in Germany. The cities university, which is part of the Technical University Munich, is renowned in the field of life science, agriculture, and brewing technology. The cities most well known institution is the Weihenstephan brewery, founded in 1040 and therefore is considered the worlds oldest continuously operating brewery.

Get in
Freising is the closest town to Munich airport allowing for a quick visit during a 3h stopover. For a visit to downtown Munich a 5-6h stopover is required.

By plane
The city is easily reachable by plane via which in fact is located on Freising's territory. Munich Airport is the 7th busiest in Europe and has international connections to most major cities in Europe and also sees a lot of intercontinental flights. There are regional trains and the regional bus 635 connecting the airport to the city.

By Taxi
Freising is a 15min/ Taxi ride from Munich airport.

By train
Freising is part of Greater Munich's public transportation network MVV. Regional trains, S-Bahn, buses and Munich U-Bahn and tram are all part of the same ticketing network and system and you can transfer between all modes during the validity of your ticket.

By car
Freising is well connected to the German autobahn network. The city has three exits - (5) Freising-Süd, (7) Freising-Mitte, (8) Freising-Ost - along autobahn A 92 from Munich to Landshut and Deggendorf in west-eastern direction, and one exit - (67) Allershausen - along autobahn A 9 from Munich to Nuremberg and Berlin in south-northern direction.

By bicycle
The Isarradweg long-distance cycling route runs from Bavarian Alps to the Danube along the river Isar through the city.

Get around
Due to the relatively compact size of the city, Freising is easily navigable on foot, whereas parking is scarce and going by car therefore not a real option. For those refusing any exercise or physically unable to walk the city provides a bus system, which is also part of Munich's fare system MVV.