When strolling through the heart of the city, one can literally sense its history. The lanes of the old town, which lies directly at the foot of the castle, communicate the feeling of past ages. Splendid town residences and chapter houses are worthy of closer scrutiny, as are the many inner courtyards hidden discretely behind arched gates. Moreover, the spacious, baroque main square with its lively hustle and bustle is never far away.
Linz is also a city of churches. With its 134m tower and space for 20,000 people, the New Cathedral is Austria´s largest church. In addition, the city landmark, the pilgrimage basilica on the Pöstlingberg, is also clearly in view. A symbol of Linz is the Lentos Museum of modern art, which has a striking glass facade that is illuminated at night with alternating colours.
culture
Linz has established an international reputation due to its extensive cultural life. You can visit the "culture mile" along the Danube, which stretches from the Brucknerhaus concert hall and the Lentos art museum and the Ars Electronica Center on the northern bank of the river. Linz also possesses a number of stage companies, which offer something for everybody in the form of a range of evening entertainment that extends from classic opera to modern dance theatre.
From June to August the Linz cultural summer features cabaret, open-air concerts and theatre on virtually daily basis at venues that are as varied as the programme itself. These include the bars and squares of the inner city, as well as the romantic Rose Garden high above the rooftops. Moreover, throughout the year, the "Posthof" features "contemporary culture at the harbour" with national and international performers.
Brucknerhaus
(http://www.brucknerhaus.a...).Posthof
(http://www.posthof.at/).Stadtwerkstatt
(http://www.stwst.at/).Kulturzentrum Hof
(http://www.kulturzentrum-...).Haus der Architektur
events
Linz is a synonym for variety that is found at open air events, in bars and restaurants and in the theatre and on concert stages of the city. In late April, the yearly Crossing Europe (http://www.crossingeurope.at) film festival for young European film features works with unconventional, courageous filmic positions. At Whitsun, the Linz Festival (http://www.linzfest.at) offers a cultural open-air festival in the Danube park, while in July the international "Pflasterspektakel" (http://www.pflasterspekta...) brings over 500 clowns, acrobats and mimes to the city´s streets. Moreover, September sees the musical "Cloud of Sounds" (http://www.klangwolke.at) in the Donaupark, the Ars Electronica Festival (http://www.aec.at/festiva...) and the Bruckner Festival.
The Linz markets provide an opportunity to browse, and sample, whether at the weekly markets or the twice yearly Fair/Carneval Urfahraner Jahrmarkt (http://www.urfahranermarkt.at), which is Austria´s oldest public festival.
During the university lecture periods October-January and March-June there are a wide range of student parties among the campuses of the 4 universities in Linz. Particularly interesting might be the weekly Mensafest every thursday in Dornach/Urfahr on the campus of Johannes-Kepler-University (http://www.jku.at) and the gatherings at the Sommerhaus Hotel (http://www.sommerhaus-hot...) during the SAICCA program that runs mid-May through mid-June.