Freienfeld
Encyclopedia
Freienfeld is a comune
(municipality) in the province of South Tyrol
in the Italian
region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, located about 100 km northeast of the city of Trento
and about 45 km north of the city of Bolzano (Bozen).
As of 30 November 2010, it had a population of 2,668 and an area of 95.3 km². According to the 2001 census, 96.22% of the population speak German, 3.30% Italian and 0.48% Ladin as first language.
, 24 km north of Brixen
and 6 km south of Sterzing
along the State road SS 12 where the valley opens up, just before Mauls, reaching the plain of Sterzing. The original core of Trens is situated on an elevated position on the eastern side of the "Trens Summit", while the village has evolved downward up to the state road, beyond this there is the Brenner railway
, the Eisack
river and the motorway A22. The municipality also includes the villages of Stilfes and Mauls, the first in the plain in front of Trens beyond the river, the second 5 km to the south at the entrance of the homonymous valley.
, Ratschings
, Mühlbach, Sarntal
, Pfitsch
, and Sterzing
.
(subdivisions, mainly villages and hamlets) Egg (Pruno), Elzenbaum, Flans (Flanes), Mauls (Mules), Niederried (Novale Basso), Pfulters (Fuldres), Ritzail (Rizzolo), Sprechenstein (Castelpietra), Stilfes (Stilves), Trens and Valgenäun (Valgenauna).
, dating back to 201 AD, was found in Freienfeld; the tombstone of Aurelia Ruffino and the sacred stone dedicated to the god of light Mithras were found in Mules. In 450 the territory was invaded by Bavarii
during their migration southbound. In a document dating from 827, Quartino made a gift of his property, including the villages of Stilfes and Trens to the Church of Innichen
, while in 990 Adalbert von Stilfes donated to the Diocese of Brixen the villages of Stilfes, Niederried, Mauls and the valleys nearby.
In 1100 at the Stilfes was entrusted by the Bishop's powers, the administration of the Eisack Valley based at Castle Rafeinstein; in 1200, due to the extinction of the family, the bishop transferred the authority to the Trauston who obtained, as a feud, the Sprechenstein Castle. In 1525, during the period of peasant struggles, the church of Stilfes was sacked several times.
who fought for the French troops as the Rhine were captured by the Tyroleans, in retaliation the village of Flans was fired.
The reorganization of Commons, made in 1849, led to a reduction of these, from nine to three: Stilfes, Trens and Mauls. On October 18, 1928, by decree, the three municipalities were reunited in a single, the Municipality of Freienfeld.
Nearby the village of Mauls, take place one of the defence of the “Vallo Alpino Littorio in Alto Adige”, a set of bunkers wanted by Benito Mussolini
, which formed the Mauls barrage. In the last period of the Second World War, the area was hit by bombing the railway bridge over the river and the ammunition storage at Stilfes.
The Municipality of Freienfeld joined, in 1967, the Community of the Valleys of the Eisacktal until 1979 to establish, together with the other municipalities, the Wipptal
District Community.
equilateral triangle, with the sides curved inward, inscribed in a vert
shield. The three vert sectors means the three municipalities: Trens, Stilfes and Mauls, and the white part is the central Municipality of Freienfeld. The emblem was granted in 1968.
The church is dedicated to "St. Peter" and is mentioned for the first time in 827. The interior is decorated in the late Baroque style and the frescos are by Christoph Brandstätter. The bell-tower was built in 1568.
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
(municipality) in the province of South Tyrol
South Tyrol
South Tyrol , also known by its Italian name Alto Adige, is an autonomous province in northern Italy. It is one of the two autonomous provinces that make up the autonomous region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. The province has an area of and a total population of more than 500,000 inhabitants...
in the Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, located about 100 km northeast of the city of Trento
Trento
Trento is an Italian city located in the Adige River valley in Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. It is the capital of Trentino...
and about 45 km north of the city of Bolzano (Bozen).
As of 30 November 2010, it had a population of 2,668 and an area of 95.3 km². According to the 2001 census, 96.22% of the population speak German, 3.30% Italian and 0.48% Ladin as first language.
Geography
Freienfeld is located in the EisacktalEisacktal
Eisack Valley is a district in South Tyrol, Italy. It comprises the middle part of the valley of the Eisack, from Franzensfeste in the north to Waidbruck in the south....
, 24 km north of Brixen
Brixen
Brixen is the name of two cities in the Alps:*Brixen, South Tyrol, Italy*Brixen im Thale, Tyrol, AustriaBrixen may also refer to:*Bishopric of Brixen, the former north-Italian state....
and 6 km south of Sterzing
Sterzing
Sterzing is a comune in South Tyrol in the region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, Italy. It is the main village of the southern Wipptal, and the Eisack River flows through the medieval town.-Origin:...
along the State road SS 12 where the valley opens up, just before Mauls, reaching the plain of Sterzing. The original core of Trens is situated on an elevated position on the eastern side of the "Trens Summit", while the village has evolved downward up to the state road, beyond this there is the Brenner railway
Brenner railway
The Brenner Railway is a major line connecting the Austrian and Italian railways from Innsbruck and Verona climbing the Wipptal , passing over the Brenner Pass and descending down the Eisack Valley to Bolzano and then down the Adige Valley from Bolzano to Rovereto and from there along the...
, the Eisack
Eisack
The Eisack is a river in Northern Italy, the second largest river in South Tyrol. Its source is near the Brenner Pass, at an altitude of about 1990 m above sea level. The river draws water from an area of about 4,200 km². After about 96 km, it joins the Adige river south of Bolzano. At first the...
river and the motorway A22. The municipality also includes the villages of Stilfes and Mauls, the first in the plain in front of Trens beyond the river, the second 5 km to the south at the entrance of the homonymous valley.
Neighbour municipalities
Freienfeld borders the following municipalities: FranzensfesteFranzensfeste
Franzensfeste is a village in Northern Italy, in South Tyrol . The village is famous for its large fort and the historic railway-station.-Geography:...
, Ratschings
Ratschings
Ratschings is a comune in South Tyrol in the Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, located about 90 km north of the city of Trento and about 45 km north of the city of Bolzano , on the border with Austria.-Geography:...
, Mühlbach, Sarntal
Sarntal
Sarntal is a valley and a comune in South Tyrol in the Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, located about 70 km northeast of the city of Trento and about 15 km north of the city of Bolzano....
, Pfitsch
Pfitsch
Pfitsch is a valley and comune in South Tyrol in the Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, located about 100 km northeast of the city of Trento and about 45 km north of the city of Bolzano , on the border with Austria....
, and Sterzing
Sterzing
Sterzing is a comune in South Tyrol in the region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, Italy. It is the main village of the southern Wipptal, and the Eisack River flows through the medieval town.-Origin:...
.
Hamlets
The municipality of Freienfeld contains the frazioniFrazione
A frazione , in Italy, is the name given in administrative law to a type of territorial subdivision of a comune; for other administrative divisions, see municipio, circoscrizione, quartiere...
(subdivisions, mainly villages and hamlets) Egg (Pruno), Elzenbaum, Flans (Flanes), Mauls (Mules), Niederried (Novale Basso), Pfulters (Fuldres), Ritzail (Rizzolo), Sprechenstein (Castelpietra), Stilfes (Stilves), Trens and Valgenäun (Valgenauna).
Origin
The town was already inhabited in prehistoric times, as shown by archaeological finds at the St. Valentine Church in Valgenäun, as in the Roman period, a milestone of Septimius SeverusSeptimius Severus
Septimius Severus , also known as Severus, was Roman Emperor from 193 to 211. Severus was born in Leptis Magna in the province of Africa. As a young man he advanced through the customary succession of offices under the reigns of Marcus Aurelius and Commodus. Severus seized power after the death of...
, dating back to 201 AD, was found in Freienfeld; the tombstone of Aurelia Ruffino and the sacred stone dedicated to the god of light Mithras were found in Mules. In 450 the territory was invaded by Bavarii
Bavarii
The Bavarii were a Germanic tribe whose name emerged late in Teutonic tribal times. The full name originally was the Germanic *baio-warioz. This name has been handed down as Baiwaren, Baioaren, Bioras, latinised Bavarii, Baioarii. or Bavarii, Bavarians, Bajuwaren, Bajuvarii, Bajuwaren and Baiern....
during their migration southbound. In a document dating from 827, Quartino made a gift of his property, including the villages of Stilfes and Trens to the Church of Innichen
Innichen
Innichen is a market town and comune in South Tyrol in the Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol.It is located in the Puster Valley on the Drava river, about 120 km northeast of Trento and about 80 km northeast of Bolzano , on Italy's border with Austria.As November 2010, it had a...
, while in 990 Adalbert von Stilfes donated to the Diocese of Brixen the villages of Stilfes, Niederried, Mauls and the valleys nearby.
In 1100 at the Stilfes was entrusted by the Bishop's powers, the administration of the Eisack Valley based at Castle Rafeinstein; in 1200, due to the extinction of the family, the bishop transferred the authority to the Trauston who obtained, as a feud, the Sprechenstein Castle. In 1525, during the period of peasant struggles, the church of Stilfes was sacked several times.
From 1809
In August 1809 during the Tyrolean Rebellion, in an ambush near "Grassestein", 500 SaxonsSaxons
The Saxons were a confederation of Germanic tribes originating on the North German plain. The Saxons earliest known area of settlement is Northern Albingia, an area approximately that of modern Holstein...
who fought for the French troops as the Rhine were captured by the Tyroleans, in retaliation the village of Flans was fired.
The reorganization of Commons, made in 1849, led to a reduction of these, from nine to three: Stilfes, Trens and Mauls. On October 18, 1928, by decree, the three municipalities were reunited in a single, the Municipality of Freienfeld.
Nearby the village of Mauls, take place one of the defence of the “Vallo Alpino Littorio in Alto Adige”, a set of bunkers wanted by Benito Mussolini
Benito Mussolini
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism....
, which formed the Mauls barrage. In the last period of the Second World War, the area was hit by bombing the railway bridge over the river and the ammunition storage at Stilfes.
The Municipality of Freienfeld joined, in 1967, the Community of the Valleys of the Eisacktal until 1979 to establish, together with the other municipalities, the Wipptal
Wipptal
The Wipptal is a valley extending along the Sill River southward from Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria, where the Sill meets the larger Inn river, up to the Brenner Pass at the Austro-Italian border, one of the lowest passes across the Central Eastern Alps...
District Community.
Coat-of-arms
The emblem of the Municipality of Freienfeld consists of argentArgent
In heraldry, argent is the tincture of silver, and belongs to the class of light tinctures, called "metals". It is very frequently depicted as white and usually considered interchangeable with it...
equilateral triangle, with the sides curved inward, inscribed in a vert
Vert
The colour green is commonly found in modern flags and coat of arms, and to a lesser extent also in the classical heraldry of the Late Middle Ages and the Early Modern period....
shield. The three vert sectors means the three municipalities: Trens, Stilfes and Mauls, and the white part is the central Municipality of Freienfeld. The emblem was granted in 1968.
Sanctuary Maria Trens
Trens is also a place of pilgrimage, the church is dedicated to the miraculous image of “Our Lady of the Avalanche”, the ancient wooden statue of the Madonna standing and the Child, dating back to 1470. The church, built in 1498 in late Gothic style, has the Chapel of Our Lady on the left side of the nave and the wall covered by numerous votive offering.St. Peter Church
The ancient ecclesiastical centre is Stilfes that is still the main church of the village.The church is dedicated to "St. Peter" and is mentioned for the first time in 827. The interior is decorated in the late Baroque style and the frescos are by Christoph Brandstätter. The bell-tower was built in 1568.