Friedberg - a place for encounters:
The town of Friedberg lies 600 m above sea level on the sunny south-facing slopes of the Wechsel Mountains near the border triangle of Styria, Lower Austria and Burgenland. It comprises an area of around 25 km² and is located within a landscape of wooded hills and mountains.
Historic Friedberg:
The town was built in 1194 by Duke Leopold V of Austria from a ransom for the English king, Richard the Lionheart, below an existing castle from 1170, for protection against the Magyars. The first-known documented mention of the town is from the year 1254 (fridberc). In the Middle Ages Friedberg was the seat of important castle buildings. The castle is no longer there today and in its place a war memorial was built on the best viewing point above the centre of the town.
Because of its position on a ridge, Friedberg is seen from afar as the centre of the Wechselland. Its easy accessibility via the A2 and the Wechsel railway, its infrastructure which includes lots of public amenities, shops, businesses and health facilities make it a place where inhabitants and tourists alike can enjoy good quality of life and recuperation. The Thonet exhibition is a reminder of the famous furniture manufacturing industry Thonet in Friedberg and holds over 80 examples of the world-famous Thonet furniture.
Sport and recuperation:
The gentle hilly landscape around Friedberg is eminently suitable for hikers, cyclists and mountain-bike excursions for the whole family. Friedberg also offers the very best in opportunites for recuperation; its sheltered location and healthy climate are ideal for people suffering from heart and thyroid conditions and asthma.
Small but fine:
As one of the smallest of Austria's towns, Friedberg has a rural feel about it, a place where customs and folk culture are preserved. The many events held throughout the year, carefully organised by the numerous associations, are good examples of this. The rural nature of the region means that culinary products are of the highest quality.
Parish Church - Jacob the Elder:
The parish church of Jacob the Elder was built at the end of the 12th century in the Romanesque style. However, in 1418 it was destroyed by the Hungarians. The new Gothic building was then badly damaged by the Turks between 1529 and 1532. The present-day church rests on Gothic foundations and offers a rich, Baroque interior.
Historic town centre:
The re-designed historic town centre of 2009 is one of the finest quadratic main squares in Styria. The wide range of shops and restaurants in the centre mean that there is still a lively core to town. Cosy restaurant gardens are a good place to rest awhile, especially in the warmer seasons. The presence of many medical specialists who have settled here recently has made Friedberg a regional centre for health.
Further information:
Wechselland Tourism Association
Hauptplatz 20
8240 Friedberg
E-Mail: urlaub@wechselland.st
Web: www.wechselland.st
Tel.: +43 3339 / 25 116
Fax: +43 3339 / 25 116
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