Linz City Travel Guide
Like most cities in Austria, the city of Linz is based on the Roman
expansion to the North. The bending of the River Danube made this territory
a strategic point and a small castle fortified it. The castle and its
settlements where named Lentia. Linz was first mentioned in 799 AD, when the
Bavarians expanded to the South and this area was transformed into a trading
hub.
Starting at the beginning of the 16th century the ideas of the Reformation
reached Linz and where happily welcomed. By 1542, the first protestant major
was elected and the Landhaus was erected. In 1600 the Habsburgers initiated
the Counter Reformation. By 1700 the Linz's layout was formed and remains to
this day, with Baroque buildings and the erecting of different monasteries.
A wool fabrication plant was built, giving work to up to 50.000 people,
making Linz Austria's main textile factory and a center of trade.
With industrialisation in the early 19th century Linz grew more and more
into a commercial city, which made it a traget for above average air raids
during World War II. In 1966 Linz became a university city with the
construction of the Johannes Kepler University.
For decades Voest Alpine industries and Chemie Linz have been major players
in the city's economy. After severe troubles both enterprises are sound once
more and provide jobs for a significant number of people. For a long time
Linz was considered to be an industrial city , with all the negatives that
go with it: dirty, smelly and devoid of cultural activities. However, with
internationally renowned institutions like the Brucknerhaus and ARS
Electronica Center and many other activities Linz has managed to shed this
image and attracts a large number of tourists and guests. In 2003 a
spectacular museum was built on the banks of the Danube. Lentos is an
impressive modern building and houses a good collection of contemporary art
featuring works by Kokoschka, Schiele, Klimt, Attersee or Hrdlicka.
Nowadays, Linz is the second largest city in Austria and a very important
location for industry. It is home to approximately 200.000 people and host
to the annual Bruckner Festival and the Ars Electronica, a fair dedicated to
technology and contemporary electronic art.
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