Friesach has 5.500 inhabitants. Carinthias oldest town is located in the north of the province.
The most impressive things about Friesach are its well-preserved buildings from the middle ages, which bear witness about an impressive history of the place.
Friesach was located on the attractive trade route between Vienna and Venice, and grew quickly to an important centre of trade during the middle ages. In 1215 Friesach became town, and had its best times from 1200 to 1246 under the reign of archbishop Eberhard II. Friesach was the second biggest town of the arch monastery Salzburg, and the most important town in Carinthia.
Friesach was not only a centre of trade. Also the church found and made an important place of religion of Friesach. It was a residence for the archbishops of Salzburg. At the end of the 13th century, Friesach was the scene of many bloody wars between the archbishops of Salzburg, the Habsburg dynasty and the Czechs from Bohemia. The town was conquered, looted and destroyed three times in a short perdiod. Result: Friesach was never able again to reach its glory and importance which the town once had before.
