Freilassing | |
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 Saint Rupert Church in Freilassing | |
 Coat of arms | |
Location of Freilassing within Berchtesgadener Land district  | |
  Freilassing  Freilassing | |
| Coordinates:47°50′N12°58′E / 47.833°N 12.967°E /47.833; 12.967 | |
| Country | Germany |
| State | Bavaria |
| Admin. region | Oberbayern |
| District | Berchtesgadener Land |
| Government | |
| • Mayor(2020–26) | Markus Hiebl[1] |
| Area | |
• Total | 14.81 km2 (5.72 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 423 m (1,388 ft) |
| Population (2023-12-31)[2] | |
• Total | 18,036 |
| • Density | 1,200/km2 (3,200/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| Postal codes | 83395 |
| Dialling codes | 08654 |
| Vehicle registration | BGL |
| Website | www.freilassing.de |
Freilassing (German pronunciation:[fʁaɪˈlasɪŋ]ⓘ), until 1923Salzburghofen is atown of some 16,000 inhabitants in the southeastern corner ofBavaria,Germany. It belongs to the "Regierungsbezirk"Oberbayern and the "Landkreis" (County) ofBerchtesgadener Land. Located very close to the German-Austrian border, Freilassing can be seen as the biggestsatellite ofSalzburg, the centre of which is eight kilometres (five miles) away, on the other side of the border.
As proved by excavations the area was already settled in theNeolithic times.Celts and laterRomans established permanent settlements. First mentioned 885 in a Carolingian document, the peasant village namedSalzburghofen was given tothe archbishop of Salzburg by kingLouis IV in 908. After theNapoleonic Wars in 1816, the border between Bavaria and Austria was drawn along the riversSaalach and Salzach, and Salzburghofen became part of Bavaria. Therailway line connectingMunich and Salzburg (and further on toVienna) changed the appearance of the village significantly. First, the railway company paid good prices for the land of the farmers. Second, many jobs were created, more than 1,000 in the 1970s.
In 1923, the name of the village was changed to Freilassing. Since the railway was of strategic interest and was also used by topNazis on their way toBerchtesgaden during thewar, Freilassing became a target for theAllied forces. In addition, a depot of theWehrmacht (the German army) was situated close to the station. On April 25, 1945, only a few days before the end of World War II, British and American bombers destroyed Freilassing almost completely.
Due to the expulsion of many Germans out of the eastern territories, the population of Freilassing grew and reached 7,700 in 1952. Thus Freilassing became "Stadt" (city) in 1954. Since then, the population has doubled.
Freilassing is located in the valley of the riversSalzach and Saalach which merge close to the northern part of the town. To the south and the east theAlps arise to altitudes of more than 2,000 m. To the north and west rolling hills dominate the landscape.
Cattle farming andtimber industry were major economic branches before the railroad era.The railway has dominated the economy for a long time since the construction of theMunich–Salzburg line in 1860. Beginning in the mid-1970s, theDB (German railways) gradually centralized their organization. Hence the importance of the railway as an employer diminished. Several small and midsize companies, especially inmechanical engineering provide jobs.
Trains stop atFreilassing Station.
(in German)Towns and municipalities inBerchtesgadener Land | ||
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