Exploring Linz, Austria: A Worthwhile Adventure?

Linz, the capital of Upper Austria, is a beautiful city located on the River Danube. Although it is often overshadowed by other Austrian cities like Vienna and Salzburg, it is a great tourist destination with a lot to offer. From its stunning architecture and historical buildings to its vibrant arts scene and delicious cuisine, Linz is definitely worth visiting.

Linz has a rich history, dating back to the Roman fortification of Lentia and becoming a flourishing town in the 15th century. The city is known for its well-preserved Old Town, with pastel-coloured buildings, grand churches, and cobblestone streets. The Old Town is also home to several museums and galleries, including the Ars Electronica Centre, the Lentos Art Museum, and the Schlossmuseum Linz.

In addition to its cultural attractions, Linz also offers a variety of natural spaces, such as the Gugl Botanical Garden, with over 10,000 plant species, and the Donaupark, a riverside park with walking paths and modern sculptures.

When it comes to food, Linz is famous for its delicious cakes, including the Linzer Torte, said to be one of the oldest cakes in the world. The city also offers a variety of dining options, from traditional Austrian restaurants to modern vegan cafes.

With its combination of history, culture, nature, and cuisine, Linz is a wonderful destination for travellers looking for a unique Austrian experience.

Linz's food scene

Linz has a diverse food scene, from small, cosy coffee houses serving homemade dishes to classic Hausmannskost (traditional Austrian cuisine). The city is also known for its superb bakeries, which sell the famous Linzer Torte, a lattice cake made with nuts and redcurrant jam (or sometimes raspberry jam). Here is a guide to some of the best food spots in Linz:

Bakeries

Linz is full of bakeries selling the renowned Linzer Torte, a 315-year-old cake that is said to be one of the oldest in the world. Here are some of the top spots to try it:

• Kund K: A cosy, old-style bakery.
• Brandl: A modern bakery.
• Gragger: Another modern bakery that also makes great Linzer biscuits.
• Jindrak: Considered the best Linzer Torte in town, this bakery has been open since 1929.

Restaurants

Linz offers a variety of dining options, from traditional Austrian cuisine to international fare. Here are some notable restaurants:

• Restaurant Verdi: Perched on a hilltop, this restaurant is known for its modern regional and European classics, such as Wiener schnitzel, and its selection of wines.
• Herberstein: A fusion cuisine restaurant serving dishes like tuna, tapioca, and venison.
• Promenadenhof: A restaurant serving local cuisine.
• Cubus: Located in the Ars Electronica Center, this restaurant overlooks the Danube and offers a long drinks list.
• Pöstlingberg-Schlössl: A grand old restaurant with a frozen-in-time decor, located on a hill overlooking the city. It offers seasonal dishes and a terrace with stunning views.
• Rosso di Acqua e Sole: A fish restaurant that elevates fish cuisine to a level of excellence.
• Göttfried essen, trinken, schlafen: A charming restaurant in the old town serving honest tavern cuisine and offering perfect wine recommendations.
• Zum kleinen Griechen: A Greek restaurant offering a variety of fish and seafood dishes, as well as a good wine list and cigar specialties.
• Schwarze Schiff: A gem of a pub serving simple but very good organic cuisine with generous portions.
• Exx: A modern, vegan-friendly restaurant offering a unique take on traditional Austrian breakfast.
• Cafe Meier: A traditional Austrian restaurant in the city centre serving a nice breakfast and good coffee (but no cards or cell phones allowed!).
• Los Mayas: An authentic Mexican restaurant with food from the Yucatan region and craft beer.

Cafes

Linz also has a vibrant cafe culture, with many Viennese-style coffee houses. Here are a few notable ones:

• Café Traxlmayr: A traditional coffee house with lactose-free milk and a lovely view of the pastel buildings in the city centre.
• Cafe Meier: As mentioned earlier, this cafe serves traditional Austrian food and is a great spot for breakfast.

The Ars Electronica Centre

Linz, Austria is a beautiful city filled with culture and history. It has stunning pastel-coloured buildings, grand churches, and a modern edge. The city is famous for its Austrian steel industry and is home to the "Museum of the Future", Ars Electronica Centre.

The topics at the centre range from artificial intelligence and neurobionics to autonomous systems, robotics, genetic engineering, biotechnology, and global changes. Visitors can watch artificial intelligence in action, train self-driving cars, program robots, print in 3D, and even process their DNA with gene scissors. The centre also has a virtual reality exhibit, where visitors can put on virtual reality goggles and experience a simulated flight, with their bodies connected to the computer by cables.

The Ars Electronica Festival takes place annually, bringing together artists, researchers, and scientists from across the globe. The festival includes lectures, workshops, exhibitions, and symposia, with a focus on media arts. The centre also has a permanent exhibition called "New Views of Humankind", which explores topics like biotechnology, robotics, rapid prototyping, and the human body.

The Old Cathedral

Linz, a beautiful Austrian city located on the Danube River, is a popular tourist destination for good reason. The city boasts lovely architecture, cobbled streets, and a vibrant café culture. While it may not be as well-known as Vienna or Salzburg, Linz is definitely worth a visit, offering a unique blend of history and modern attractions.

One of the highlights of Linz is the Old Cathedral, also known as the Ignatiuskirche or the Jesuit Church. Located in the heart of the city, the Old Cathedral is a stunning example of Baroque architecture. Here is everything you need to know about this magnificent church:

History

Architecture and Interior

The exterior of the Old Cathedral is relatively plain, with two towers on either side of the main door, topped with onion domes. In contrast, the interior is lavishly decorated in the Baroque style, featuring pink marble columns, intricate stucco work, and three side chapels on either side of a wide main nave.

One of the most striking features of the Old Cathedral is its high altar, created by Giovanni Battista Barbarino and Giovanni Battista Colombo. The altar incorporates various statues made of marble, and it showcases a painting of Saint Aloysius by Antonio Bellucci above it. The church also boasts an elaborately detailed wooden pulpit and choir stalls from the 17th century, originally from Garsten Abbey.

Organ and Music

Bruckner Festival

In honour of Anton Bruckner and his connection to the Old Cathedral, the Bruckner Festival is held annually in the church. This festival celebrates the composer's legacy and showcases both classical and jazz performances.

The New Cathedral

The cathedral provides a peaceful atmosphere and is a haven for visitors seeking tranquillity. From the spire, one can enjoy panoramic views of Linz. The tower tours are highly recommended, offering a different perspective of the city. The New Cathedral also has seven swinging bells, cast by Anton Gugg in 1901, with the largest bell, Immaculata, weighing eight tons.

The Pöstlingbergbahn railway

The Pöstlingbergbahn is a narrow-gauge electric railway, or "mountain tramway", in Linz, Austria. Opened in 1898, it is one of the steepest adhesion railways in the world, with a maximum grade of 11.6%. The railway connects the main square in the centre of Linz with the district of Pöstlingberg, a popular destination for pilgrims located at the top of a hill at the northern end of the city.

The construction of the railway was deemed worthwhile due to the increasing number of hikers visiting the summit area, which revealed an impressive view. The Pöstlingbergbahn was initially intended to be a summer-only excursion service, but passenger numbers exceeded expectations, and two enclosed cars were purchased in 1899. Ridership slowly increased to just over 200,000 passengers per year by World War I. During and after the war, passenger numbers reached record levels, with 1,264,000 passengers in 1943.

In 2005, a derailment sparked a debate over the safety of operations, and in 2006, it was decided to modernize the Pöstlingbergbahn. Service was temporarily halted in 2008 for reconstruction and fleet replacement, and three new low-floor tramcars were purchased, along with the modernization of three old trams. The Pöstlingbergbahn was officially reopened in 2009, celebrating the line's 111th anniversary. Today, about 500,000 people use the line each year.

Frequently asked questions