Vienna - Freyung

The Freyung is a triangular space near the Schottenkloster. The name Freyung ("free place") refers to the fact that, like St Stephen's it had the right of receiving and protecting any who were being pursued, except those who had shed blood. In olden days a Punch and Judy show stood on Freyung, and later on there was a gallows where quick justice was meted out to traitors. Mountebanks, hucksters and sweetmeat-sellers had their pitches here. It was only in the 17th and 18th C. that the buildings were erected which form the setting for Freyung today: Palais Ferstel (No. 2), Harrach Palace (No. 3; currently being refurbished by Oskar Schmidt as an exhibition center of contemporary art) and the Baroque Kinsky Palace (No. 4). The art forum of Bank Austria (No. 1) has interesting temporary exhibitions (open: daily 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Wed. until 9 p.m.).