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View of the Freyung, painted by Canaletto in 1758
Palais Harrach, Freyung 3
Palais Kinsky, Freyung 4

The Freyung is a triangularly-shaped public square in Vienna, located in the first district Innere Stadt. The square originally lay outside the Roman fortification walls of Vindabona. In the 12th century, Irish monchs arrived by invitation of Duke Henry II of Austria to build a monastery. The monastery is called Schottenkloster (in English: Scotish Monastery), since Ireland back then was still known as "New Scotland". The square around the Schottenkloster monastery was known as "bei den Schotten" ("at the Scots"). The name Freyung has its origin from the old German word "frey", meaning "free". Since the monastery had the privilege to enjoy freedom from ducal authority, as well as grant protection to anyone who was running from the law, the square ended up getting its name from the importance and the function of the Schottenkloster.

The Freyung became an important market square, various street artists and entertainers performed here for their living. One of the famous characters was that of the Wiener Hanswurst (Viennese Fool), a production by Josef Stranitzky. The priory was added to the monastery in 1773 and became popularly known as Schubladkastenhaus (Shoebox-house) because of its shape.

Since the Hofburg Imperial Palace was not far away, many aristocrats moved into the area, as well as the neighbouring Herrengasse, and established their city residences at the square in the 17th and 18th century.

City palaces (known as Palais) include:

Further palaces located right next to the Freyung is the:

In the late 19th century banks and financial houses started moving into the area and established their headquarters there.

In the middle of the square is the Austria-Brunnen fountain, erected in 1844-1846 by Ludwig Schwanthaler in honour of Emperor Ferdinand I of Austria. In 1856, the houses between the Freyung and the adjacent square Am Hof were demolished to broaden the street between them.

The Freyung has a Christmas market (Christkindlmarkt) every winter season, a tradition still kept since 1772.

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