Linz: Austria's Hidden Gem On The Danube

Linz is a city in Upper Austria, located on the River Danube. It is the third-largest city in Austria and is known for its rich cultural life, including museums, galleries, and festivals. The city has a well-preserved old town, stunning architecture, and beautiful natural surroundings. Linz is also an economically vibrant city, with a strong industrial presence, particularly in the steel and chemical industries.

Linz is the capital of Upper Austria

Linz has a rich history, dating back to the first century when it was established as a Roman fort named Lentia. The name "Linz" was first documented in 799, and the city was mentioned as a fortified city in 1236. In the 13th century, Linz had all the characteristics of a city but none of the rights. It was granted city rights in 1324.

Linz is an important cultural centre, with a vibrant music and arts scene. It is home to the Johannes Kepler University, named after the mathematician Johannes Kepler who spent several years of his life in the city. The city also boasts several museums, art galleries, and historic buildings, including the Old Castle, St. Martin's Church, the early Baroque Town Hall, and the neo-Gothic New Cathedral.

Linz is a major economic centre in Austria, with extensive docks and a busy river-trade industry. It is also a retail trade centre, with large shopping malls and wholesale facilities. The city has a population of over 200,000 people and is served by an efficient public transport system, including a central railway station that has been awarded the title of the most beautiful train station in Austria multiple times.

Linz is a beautiful city with stunning architecture and vast areas of green space. It is a great tourist destination, offering a brilliant array of museums, historical buildings, and other attractions.

It is the third-largest city in Austria

Linz is the third-largest city in Austria, with a population of 212,538 as of 1 January 2024. It is the capital of Upper Austria and is located on the River Danube in the far north of the country, 30km (19 miles) south of the border with the Czech Republic.

Linz is one of the main economic centres of Austria, with a vast industrial complex on the southern banks of the Danube. The city is also a hub for trade, with 13 shopping malls, including three in the city centre, and a busy wholesale sector.

Linz is a mix of contemporary culture, a historic city centre, and an industrial heartland. The city boasts a vibrant music and arts scene, with a variety of museums, galleries, and performance venues. It was named a European Capital of Culture in 2009.

The city has a large university and several other higher education facilities, with a significant teenage/young adult population. This contributes to a thriving nightlife, with plenty of music bars and restaurants catering to various tastes and budgets.

Linz has a rich history, with the name originating from the Roman fort of Lentia, established in the first century. The city has a well-preserved old town, with medieval and 17th- to 18th-century buildings, pedestrian streets, and small alleys. The main square, Hauptplatz, is a transport hub and the start of the main shopping street, Landstrasse.

Linz is also known for its culinary specialties, including the famous Linzer torte, a short crumbly pastry with nuts, cinnamon, and jam.

The city is located on the River Danube

Linz is a city located on the River Danube in Upper Austria, around 100 miles west of Vienna. The river widens as it passes through the city, emerging from its narrow passage through the outliers of the Bohemian Forest into the Linz basin.

The city's location on the Danube makes it an ideal spot for river excursions and exploring the surrounding countryside. The river is one of the finest in Europe, and Linz is one of the many important cities on its banks, alongside Budapest, Vienna, Belgrade and Bratislava. Boat trips along the river are a popular tourist activity, with options ranging from shorter trips through the Linz Harbour, to longer half-day trips to Vienna.

Linz's position on the Danube has also contributed to its economic significance. The city has extensive docks and a busy river-trade, and is a large centre of employment. The river's strategic value dates back to Roman times, when a fort was established at the river bend to protect a vital transportation route.

The city's landscape is characterised by the Danube and delightful hills. The river is an important part of the city's cultural life, with many museums and cultural events located along its banks. The Donaulände, or 'culture mile', is a park alongside the river that is popular with young people in the summer. It is also used for festivals, such as the Ars Electronica Festival, and hosts a music pavilion with free performances during the warmer months.

Linz is divided into 16 statistical districts

Linz, the capital of Upper Austria and the country's third-largest city, is divided into 16 statistical districts. These districts were established in January 2014, and they replaced the previous nine districts and 36 statistical quarters.

The 16 statistical districts of Linz are:

• Bindermichl-Keferfeld
• Kleinmünchen-Auwiesen
• Industriegebiet-Hafen
• Bulgariplatz
• Dornach-Auhof
• Ebelsberg
• Franckviertel
• Froschberg
• Innere Stadt
• Kaplanhof
• Neue Heimat
• Pichling
• Pöstlingberg
• Spallerhof
• St. Magdalena
• Urfahr

Before the reorganisation in 2014, the nine districts of Linz were:

• Innenstadt
• Kleinmünchen
• Lustenau
• Pöstlingberg
• St. Magdalena
• Urfahr
• Waldegg

Each district was further divided into statistical quarters, with a total of 36 quarters across the city.

It is a UNESCO City of Media Arts

Linz is a city in Upper Austria, located on the River Danube in the far north of the country. It is the third-largest city in Austria and is known for its combination of historical buildings, stunning architecture, green spaces, and modern innovations.

Linz is a UNESCO City of Media Arts, and this status is reflected in its vibrant and innovative cultural scene. The city has a strong connection to media art, with digital culture and media art recognised as essential drivers of technological and social innovation. This focus on the arts is exemplified by its array of brilliant museums.

The Ars Electronica Centre, also known as the Museum of the Future, is a hub for new media arts and a significant world centre for technologically oriented artists. The centre is home to the Deep Space 8K, a unique virtual world featuring wall and floor projections, laser tracking, and 3D animations. The Prix Ars Electronica, a renowned competition in computer art, has been held here since 1987.

Linz is also home to the Lentos Art Museum, which showcases modern and contemporary art, including classical modernist, 19th-century, and expressionist pieces from the 1920s. The museum's exterior dazzles with neon colours at night.

The University of Arts Linz, with its roots in the city's art school founded in 1947, offers a diverse range of programmes that combine free artistic creation, science, and applied design. The university's curriculum includes architecture, fine arts, graphic design, media culture, and art theory, among others.

The city also boasts the VALIE EXPORT Center, an international research institution for media and performance art. The centre is named after media art pioneer and Linz native VALIE EXPORT and houses her works and archives, making them publicly accessible for research.

Linz truly embraces media art as a driving force in art, technology, and society, solidifying its reputation as a UNESCO City of Media Arts.

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