Listen… In Freising, rich with religion, you will find the world’s oldest beer brewery.
In 1040 the monks of the Benedictine monastery of Weihenstephan were allowed to brew and serve their own beer. Located at Weihenstephansberg 9, this brewery is easily reached on foot.
Ask — the brewery may still offer guided tours on business days!
Northeast of the brewery, and a short walk, is the Old Town or Altstadt, housing a number of canons’ quarters. A canon is a clergyman belonging to the staff or a cathedral or collegiate church. Tours run occasionally, but check before you go.
On a low hill above the Altstadt, Mariendom is a Romanesque basilica featuring twin towers. Appearing plain on the outside, the interior is rather extravagant. From the oldest Romanesque crypt in Germany to the Bestiensäule, a medieval sculpture, this is truly an artist’s delight.
Freising also offers an 8th century library, and the largest diocesan museum in Germany. Plan to spend a day here sightseeing. Have lunch at the brewery and bring walking shoes.
This town is a religious treat to not only Catholics, but historians as well. There have been important historical documents written from 900 to 1200 within the monastery, including the first Roman-script continuous text in a Slavic language. The scripts, even though written here, are housed today in nearby Munich.
Its residents are generally students from abroad, and Munich Airport personnel. With buses and trains running conveniently to and from Munich, it makes this location superb for anyone relying on public transportation.
