Linz

There’s a love for the past at Linz, but also a careful glance at the future and present, with its multitude of artistic and industrial activities.

 

The atmosphere is magical and exciting, above all when you arrive at the mountain of Postlinberg: the top of the mountain can be reached by train. Here the old fortress hosts a world of fairy tales, where you can meet gnomes and fairy - tale characters - a true joy for adults and children. And from the panoramic terrace, there’s an incredible view of the city and the Danube that crosses it. 

 

Another sight to admire is of the splendid Basilica dedicated ‘to the seven sorrows of the Virgin Mary', a crowded place of pilgrimage.

 

 

The Laudhaus, a Renaissance building and headquarters of the provincial government, which houses a historical monument, the planetenbrunnen, a fountain decoratedwith the planets in memory of Kepler, who discovered the movement of the planets and who lived and worked in the city for various years; the house where he lived can be also be visited in the city.

 

Linz’s rich history is told in the Schlossmuseum, the Castle Museum, which holds some of the most important items of art and culture of Upper Austria, collections of nineteenth-century Gothic art and painting and interesting collections of folk art.

 

 

As well as the Lentos Museum Linz, housed in a futuristic building and displaying superb collections of contemporary art by artists such as Klimt, Schiele and Kokoschka.

The lively atmosphere of the city on the Danube is felt in the numerous Festivals taking place throughout the year: in Spring, the Crossing Europe Film Festival, which presents films, short films and documentaries made by European artists with rich prizes on offer; in summer, the Pflasterspektakel, a festival of street artists who give acrobatic displays, juggling acts, dance and theatre performances; in September, the Ars Electronica, one of the world’s most important media art festivals. Linz is also home to the unique Ars Electronica Museum, exhibiting all the latest technology.