When it comes to Linz, many tourists get confused. The fact is that there is a city with that name in Austria, as well as in Germany. Moreover, both of them deserve to be visited. Let's look at the sights of the cities of Linz, study the reviews of tourists and try to understand the "highlight" of each.
The capital of Upper Austria
Linz on the Danube lies on both banks of the picturesque river. It ranks third in the country in size. 190 thousand inhabitants live here. Today it is a large industrial, transport and cultural center. However, tourists celebrate his calm and still provincialism.
Typically, Linz is visited by passage from Vienna to Salzburg. It is better to do this from May to October, when pleasant weather is set with an average temperature of + 20 ° C. The city pleases tourists with its neatness and beautiful panoramas. However, lovers of outdoor activities and noisy parties may find boring walks through the streets with sightseeing. Linz in Austria immerses you in an atmosphere of European dimension and leisure. Here you can stay for a few days, devoting the first of them to the inspection of the city itself, and the other - to travel around the neighborhood.
History
The most ancient sights in Linz were not preserved, although people settled here since the Bronze Age. It is known that the Celtic settlement with the name Lentos was originally created. Then the area passed to the Romans, who in 15 BC built here the border fortress of Lentius. In 799, the city of Linz was mentioned by Bavarian written monuments. This is due to the construction of the oldest Austrian church of St. Martin.
Medieval Linz was part of the Roman Empire. In 1490, he was even proclaimed the capital by ruler Frederick III. True, this did not last long. But the city got the opportunity to build a bridge across the Danube, which contributed to the development of trade. Linz became a major center of industry during the time of Nazism. A. Hitler spent his childhood here, and wanted to see the city as part of the Reich. Since 1938, military factories and the Mauthausen concentration camp have been operating in Linz , on the site of which today is the Memorial Museum.
Landmarks of Linz
What do you need to see a tourist who finds himself in this wonderful Austrian city? Below is a list of the most interesting places:
- The Austrians call Linz the city of churches. Here you can see the churches of St. Martin (799) and the Pilgrims (1648), as well as the Old Cathedral, built in 1678, and the New Cathedral in 1924.
- In the main square called Hautplatz (1260), a column stands in honor of the Holy Trinity, which defended the city from the plague.
- Walking in the center, you can see the old town hall, built in 1513, and the house-museum in which Mozart stayed.
- There are two castles in the city. The castle of Linz was built on the site of the Roman fort, in which Frederick III lived. The Landhaus Palace was erected in 1571. The descendants of Countess E. Bathory, who became famous for the massacres of young girls, lived in it.
- By steep rail you can climb Mount Pestlinberg. From here you can see the excellent panorama of the city. Here is the Botanical Garden with a rich collection of cacti. Children will be happy to visit the Grottenbahn caves, where dwarves live and a steam locomotive rides in the form of a dragon.
- In bad weather, you can stroll around the Center for Electronic Art or the Lentos Museum of Art.
Festivals
For some tourists, sightseeing in Linz seems like a boring activity. If your soul craves vivid impressions, time your visit to local festivals.
There are several of them:
- Bruckner Festival (September) in honor of the famous composer A. Bruckner, who lived in this city. Its feature is the Sound Cloud, when modern music is accompanied by video projections, fireworks, balloons, laser shows and other effects.
- Ars Electronica Festival (September), where you can see with your own eyes the wonders of three-dimensional graphics and make a virtual flight over Upper Austria.
- Festival Pflaster performance (July). These days, artists and circus artists, clowns and artists, poets and dancers demonstrate their art on the streets, actively involving spectators in their performances.
City surroundings
Those who have enough time can stay in the city and get acquainted with the sights near Linz. These include:
- Monastery of St. Baroque Floriana, where the composer A. Bruckner served as organist. The place will appeal to lovers of painting.
- Benedictine Abbey in the city of Lambach, where you can admire romantic frescoes and stucco molding, as well as see funny sculptures of gnomes in the garden.
- Wilhering Abbey, whose church is famous for its magnificent interiors in the Rococo style.
- Enns, the oldest town in Austria, can be reached in 15 minutes. The houses built during the Renaissance are preserved here. The Stadtturm clock tower is especially popular, climbing up which you can see the surroundings.
Linz am rhein
Sights of the German town with the same name do not leave tourists indifferent. It is located west of Cologne, on the land of Rhineland-Palatinate. Only 6 thousand people live in this Linz. Despite its small size, the city attracts attention with its colorfulness. Getting here, people are immersed in a fabulous atmosphere. No wonder Linz is called the "gingerbread town."
Lovers of half-timbered houses will get real pleasure. Walking through the narrow streets paved with cobblestones, you can imagine yourself a resident of the Middle Ages. By the way, it was here that Turgenev stopped when he composed the story Asya filled with lyrics.
History
Probably the first inhabitants of these places on the right bank of the Rhine were the Celtic tribes (600 BC), who were then replaced by the Carolingians. The first written mention of the settlement dates back to 874. The first church was built here in the 9th century. The status of the city of Linz received in 1320. In those days, raids of nomadic tribes were not uncommon. Therefore, in 1391, the construction of the Fortress Gate began, designed to provide reliable protection for residents. In 1543, the Town Hall was erected, another of the attractions of Linz.
Germany did not always belong to the city. During his long life, he passed from hand to hand, managed to stay under the rule of the Swedes, the British. During the reign of Napoleon, it belonged to France, from 1815 - to Prussia. This led to serious damage. Restore Linz began in 1861. After the railway, industry began to develop here, mainly represented by winemaking and basalt mining. Today, tourist destinations are actively developing in the city.
sights
The tiny town can be bypassed in one day. Below is a list of Linz attractions. Photos allow you to form an idea of the unforgettable atmosphere of this place.
Tourists are usually attracted by:
- The Rhine Gates of the XIV century, near which in ancient times the burgomaster passed the key to the city to its new owner.
- Burgplatz Square, where you can see the Linz Chatterbox fountain, an old house built in 1500 and a castle founded in 1365.
- "New Gate" of 1391, next to which is a sculpture of a running boy with a rattle.
- Kastenholzplatz square, where the bells of the old town hall still ring. There are two fountains right there: Mariensaule with the image of the Virgin on a high column and Ratsbrunnen with sculptures of members of the city parliament. Their hands are hinged. Raising them up or lowering them, the townspeople can express their attitude to the authorities.
- Church of St. Martin, built in 1214 and known for its wall painting.
- A modern church erected in honor of the Virgin Mary. In it you can see the altar image of this saint of 1463.
- The houses where Beethoven and Turgenev stayed.
Castle museum
Wandering around the city, tourists linger for a long time in the castle of Linz. Today, several interesting objects are located here. In the basement there is an opportunity to see the torture chamber and learn the secrets of medieval interrogations with addiction. From here you can go to the glass-blowing workshop, where before your eyes they will make copies of antique vases from white or colored glass. An unforgettable impression is made by the “Sounding Museum”, in which mechanical instruments for one coin will play a provocative melody for you.
Linz also has a Puppet Museum and an Antique Museum. In the latter you can see ancient swords and sabers, medieval chain mail, the first car, telephone, printing press.
Sights of Linz - both Austrian and German - arouse the interest of tourists and allow you to experience a special medieval flavor. Nevertheless, these are very different cities whose history is worthy of respect. Do not miss the opportunity to visit these places while in Europe, and you will certainly not be disappointed.