Salzhof

The exemplary renovation and restoration of the Salzhof will provide an important impetus for the revitalisation of Freistadt's historic city centre. We can already see that the Salzhof will be very well utilised. The people of Freistadt are enthusiastic about the various possibilities.

Even before the town was founded, a fortified house stood here on the old trade route between the Danube and the Vltava. The foundation stone was laid here, so to speak, from which an entire town was to develop. The Babenbergs turned this house into the
first princely castle in the city. After the Habsburgs' new castle was completed in 1397, the old castle only served as a storehouse. From the middle of the 16th century, merchants used the building as a salt store and it was given its current name - Salzhof. The salt skid above the main entrance still symbolises this today.
The tower facing the moat was badly damaged in a fire in 1815. The two upper storeys were demolished and the Altenhof tower is now just a stump. At the end of the 20th century, the town bought the building
and, with the help of the Federal Monuments Office, converted it into a cultural and events centre, which also houses the regional music school and was opened in 2003. It was an outstanding success in preserving the historical building fabric while still incorporating all the advantages of a modern event centre. During the extensive renovation work, old toll slips from the 17th century were found, which served as the carriers' passes at the time.
If the building is open, why not take a look inside?