Altes Gefängnis, Historical prison building in Freising, Germany
The Altes Gefängnis is a building complex with architectural heritage in Freising featuring three floors with prison cells arranged around a central courtyard. The structure combines elements from different construction phases and currently houses both exhibitions and a restaurant within its walls.
The prison was founded in 1663 as the Eisenfrohnveste and expanded in 1840 with a three-story cell block. Operations as a correctional facility ceased in 1965, after which the building took on new roles.
The place blends judicial history with present-day use: downstairs operates as a restaurant, while upper floors contain exhibition spaces that document past functions. Visitors can observe former cells where prisoners lived while dining in spaces that once served entirely different purposes.
The building is located on Obere Domberggasse and opens Wednesday through Sunday with guided tours of the prison museum available. Visitors can explore the cells and dine at the on-site wine restaurant, making both activities possible in a single visit.
The basement contains a prison tower built during the witch trials between 1715 and 1723. This section of the structure bears witness to one of the darkest periods in the region's past.
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