Things to do in Freistadt

No. 5 of Night Attractions in Czech Republic

State Castle and Chateau Český Krumlov

State Castle and Chateau Český Krumlovis situated on a hill in a town in South Bohemia, where the horseshoe-shaped bend of the Vltava River embraces both it and the Old Town. The castle was first built in the mid-13th century, and over the following centuries, it was constructed and expanded by families such as the Rosenbergs, Eggenbergs, and Schwarzenbergs, gradually forming a massive castle complex consisting of over 40 buildings and palaces connected by 5 courtyards, second in size in the Czech Republic only to Prague Castle. A major highlight of the castle is climbing to the top of the Castle Tower to overlook the entire town, as if immersed in a sea of red roofs.

No. 9 of Best Things to Do in Czech Republic

Historic Center of Cesky Krumlov

Historic Center of Cesky Krumlovis located in the South Bohemian region of the Czech Republic. The Vltava River winds through the town, creating a bend that almost encircles the Old Town. The town unfolds in layers around a castle built in the 13th century, featuring a blend of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture. Thanks to over five centuries of stable development, the medieval street layout has been preserved almost entirely. Red-tiled roofs, winding cobblestone streets, and old houses with painted facades form the backdrop of the Old Town. In Central Europe, which has been ravaged by war several times, such a complete and well-preserved medieval town is rare. The castle complex in the town is second in size in the Czech Republic only to Prague Castle. The round tower with its painted facade is the landmark of the entire town, and climbing it offers a panoramic view of the Old Town embraced by the river bend.

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Neuschwanstein Castle

Neuschwanstein Castle is located in the foothills of the Alps in Bavaria, Germany, near the Austrian border and not far from the small town of Füssen. Built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria as a tribute to composer Wagner and inspired by the legend of the "Swan Knight" Lohengrin, construction began in 1869. Its fairy-tale appearance—white walls, blue domes, and scattered spires—served as the inspiration for Disney's Sleeping Beauty Castle. It is perennially regarded as Germany's tourism icon. The castle interior was originally planned to have over 200 rooms, but by the time of the king's death in 1886, only a dozen had been completed, each exquisitely crafted. The throne hall's dome is painted with a star-studded blue night sky, while the floor features mosaic patterns of flora and fauna, with a chandelier modeled after a Byzantine crown hanging high above. The Gothic double bed in the king's bedroom took over four years to carve by more than a dozen sculptors. The relatively large singers' hall in the castle, adorned with murals of "Lohengrin" and "Parsifal," was modeled after the Wartburg singers' hall and still hosts concerts every September. Swan motifs are nearly omnipresent, appearing in murals, door handles, and washstands. Interestingly, this medieval-inspired castle was already equipped with telephones, central heating, hot water, and automatic flushing toilets at the time, making it remarkably advanced for its era. To capture the classic postcard-perfect shot, head to Marienbrücke. This pedestrian bridge, suspended over the Pöllat Gorge, faces the southern facade of the castle and is not far from the bus drop-off point. It gets crowded in the afternoon, so an early visit is recommended. You can take the shuttle bus, a horse-drawn carriage, or hike up the mountain. The hiking route offers a bird's-eye view of the castle, and along the way, you can also see the yellow Hohenschwangau Castle, the old royal palace on the opposite hill. The castle's ending carries a touch of tragedy: Ludwig II built it with his private funds and loans, facing strong opposition from his ministers. On a late night in June 1886, he was arrested in his castle bedroom and mysteriously died days later by Lake Starnberg. Seven weeks later, the castle opened to the public. Today, visiting the interior requires following a guide, and photography is prohibited inside. Live guides provide commentary in English or German, while an audio guide is available for Chinese. Visitor guide To the castle There are three ways to reach the castle: taking the shuttle bus, riding a carriage, or going on foot. Most people choose to take the shuttle bus, then walk a short distance to Neuschwanstein Castle, where there is a viewing platform to overlook another castle—Hohenschwangau. You can also reach the castle by carriage, where you can enjoy picturesque scenery along the way, and the witty carriage driver will share legendary stories that happened here. After disembarking, it's just a short walk to the castle entrance. If you don't want to wait in line for the shuttle bus or prefer outdoor activities, you can also hike to Neuschwanstein Castle. Along the way, you can capture an aerial view of the castle, and there are relatively fewer travelers. Take a postcard-perfect photo of the castle Marienbrücke (Mary's Bridge) is located near the terminal stop of the uphill bus. This 100 m-high bridge spans between two cliffs, with its floor made of wooden planks that slightly bounce when stepped on. Here, you can capture the famous postcard-perfect shot of Neuschwanstein Castle. If you arrive early before your scheduled visit time, you can first head to Marienbrücke to photograph the beautiful view of Neuschwanstein Castle, as the bridge gets overcrowded after noon. Guided tour To visit the castle interior, you must follow the official guide. The guide provides services in English and German. You can also choose to use an audio guide (available in Chinese). After the visit, you can take a short break at the café inside the castle.

No. 1 of Best Things to Do in Austria

Kunsthistorisches Museum

The Kunsthistorisches Museum was commissioned by Emperor Franz Joseph specifically to house the art collections accumulated by the Habsburg dynasty over the centuries. Designed by architects Gottfried Semper and Karl von Hasenauer, it officially opened in 1891. The museum building itself is a work of art, with its Renaissance-style facade, towering octagonal dome, and marble-decorated interiors complementing one another; the grand staircase leading to the upper floor features murals painted by Klimt and others, and the hall beneath the dome is equally worth pausing to admire. The collection is mainly divided into the Picture Gallery, the Egyptian and Near Eastern Collection, the Collection of Greek and Roman Antiquities, the Coin Collection, and the Kunstkammer. The Picture Gallery is the highlight of the entire museum, with the paintings of Pieter Bruegel the Elder being particularly precious—the museum holds over ten of his oil paintings, including masterpieces such as "The Tower of Babel," "The Hunters in the Snow," and "The Peasant Wedding," a concentration of works rarely seen among museums worldwide. In addition, Raphael's "Madonna of the Meadow," Caravaggio's "The Crowning with Thorns," Vermeer's "The Art of Painting," Velázquez's portraits of the Spanish royal family, and Arcimboldo's "Four Seasons" series are all displayed here. The Kunstkammer houses the golden salt cellar crafted by Cellini, regarded as a representative masterpiece of Renaissance goldsmithing. The entire museum is worth spending the better part of a day savoring in detail, and ample time should be set aside especially for the Picture Gallery and the Bruegel room.

No. 2 of Best Things to Do in Austria

Belvedere Palace

• Belvedere Palace is a Baroque architectural style palace located in the center of Vienna. Together with Hofburg Palace and Schönbrunn Palace, it is known as the three major palaces in Vienna. • In addition to appreciating the master's paintings, the building itself, inner hall design, sculptures, gardens, etc. adopt the Baroque style, which is worth seeing. • Immerse yourself in the grandeur of Baroque architecture and admire famous works such as Jacques-Louis David's famous portrait of Napoleon. △ The palace is located in the center of beautifully landscaped gardens, with tiered fountains and statues nestled among greenery. The Belvedere Palace was once the palace of Prince Eugen of the Habsburg Dynasty and is now the home of the Austrian National Gallery. △ The Belvedere Palace at sunset, the beautiful scenery makes you even more lingering

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Prague Castle

Prague Castle is a prominent historical complex in the Czech Republic, located on a hill overlooking the Vltava River. First established in the 9th century, the castle has been expanded and renovated through various periods, featuring Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architectural elements. Key attractions within the castle include St. Vitus Cathedral, the Old Royal Palace, Golden Lane, and the Royal Gardens. Visitors can explore these sites to experience both remarkable historical relics and exquisite architectural details. Serving as the official office of the Czech president, Prague Castle holds many valuable artifacts and provides insights into the country's rich history and culture. Walking through the castle area offers panoramic views of Prague's old town and a distinctive atmosphere, making it an important destination for understanding Czech heritage.

No. 2 of Best Things to Do in Germany

BMW Museum

The BMW Museum is located at the BMW brand experience center in Munich, the global headquarters of BMW, and is the core venue showcasing the century-old history of the BMW brand. The museum covers a total area of approximately 5,000 m² and features a "bowl-shaped" design, adjacent to the iconic BMW "four-cylinder building" headquarters. The exhibition halls of the BMW Museum are designed as an encircling space, divided into seven themed exhibition areas, presenting the entire process from the spark of inspiration to the realization of products. It displays various BMW automobiles, BMW motorcycles, and some special-purpose vehicle samples produced over the years, and employs modern high-tech means such as sound, light, electricity, and multimedia, as well as photographic and audiovisual materials, to enhance the artistic space of product display, comprehensively interpreting the history of the growth and development of the BMW automobile company. The halls are connected by ramps and platforms, with a visiting route stretching approximately one km, and walking through it feels like shuttling through a three-dimensional city of automobile culture.

Messe Mühlviertel

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Goldener Saal

The Goldener Saal in Vienna is the main concert hall within the Vienna Musikverein building, officially opened in January 1870 and designed by Danish architect Theophil Hansen. The entire building adopts a neoclassical style, with its exterior modeled after an ancient Greek temple, while the interior of the hall is dominated by gold tones. The ceiling features a painting of Apollo and the nine Muses by August Eisenmenger, with the blue background and gold decorations complementing each other. The hall also contains sculptures by Franz Melnitzky and numerous caryatids. The acoustic design of the Goldener Saal has long been renowned. In an era when architectural acoustics had not yet formed a systematic theory, Hansen relied on intuition to design the hall with a "shoebox" proportion, combined with coffered ceiling panels, thick plaster walls, and a hollow resonance space beneath the stage, achieving a reverberation time of approx. two seconds, so that a balanced listening experience is obtained regardless of where one sits in the hall. This acoustic achievement has long made it recognized as one of the concert halls with outstanding sound quality. This is the permanent performance venue of the Vienna Philharmonic. The Vienna New Year's Concert, held annually on January 1, is broadcast worldwide via television, and the images of the golden hall together with the Strauss family waltzes have become a cultural symbol of the New Year. In addition to the New Year's Concert, the hall's year-round classical music season also brings together numerous international orchestras and conductors. The building also houses multiple performance spaces of varying sizes, such as the Brahms Hall, which can accommodate different types of performances including chamber music.

No. 4 of Best Things to Do in Austria

Vienna Music Society

The building of the Vienna Music Association is across the street from the Charles Church. This exquisite building is home to the world-famous Golden Hall. It is known as one of the "Five Concert Halls in the World". It is the perennial performance venue of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. The Vienna New Year's Concert of the World takes place here. The building was built between 1867 and 1869 by the Danish designer Theophil Hansen. The overall style imitated the architectural style of the Greek temple. The facade is supported by three goddesses, which is classical and chic. Various concerts are held here throughout the year. Together with the Berlin Philharmonic Hall, the Leipzig Gewandhaus Concert Hall, the Amsterdam Concert Hall, and the Boston Symphony Hall, it is also known as the world's five largest concert halls. There are six main concert halls in the Musikverein Hall building, named Hall (Golden Hall), Brahms Hall, Glass Hall (Grand Auditorium), Metal Hall, Stone Hall (Horst Hasak Hall) and Wood Hall. Among them, the Golden Hall is the largest concert hall in the Music Association Building, which can accommodate 2,000 listeners at the same time. The Golden Hall is rectangular, resplendent and beautiful. The surrounding walls are supported by Greek-style goddess columns. The exquisite oil paintings on the ceiling depict pictures of Apollo, Muses and musical angels, Mozart, Brahms, Shi Busts of music masters such as Trauss can be found here. The acoustic effect of the golden hall is also ahead of the world. The architect hollowed out a space under the wooden floor of the high platform, and carefully calculated the division of the upstairs box and the arrangement of the goddess column on the wall, making the golden wooden floor and wall look like a violin. The sound of the band vibrates and swirls in the hall, and the reverberation curls, so that the audience in the hall can enjoy the same level of music performance regardless of whether they are sitting near or far. Other concert halls Brahms Hall, also known as "Small Hall", is mainly used for small music performances such as piano solo and chamber music. It can accommodate more than 600 audiences. There is a bust statue of Brahms at the entrance. It is decorated with red colonnade and golden ceiling, which is very gorgeous. The Glass Hall was one of four new concert halls, and was also used as a conference hall, movie screening room and dance floor. It is equipped with advanced projection, sound and stage art facilities. The walls of the metal hall are made of special metal plates with excellent sound insulation. It is mainly used as a rehearsal hall and often holds various cultural and artistic activities. The Stone Hall houses precious manuscripts, musical scores, musical instruments and other collections. The wood hall is made of wood from floor to ceiling.