Linz

Upper Austria's capital on the Danube, where Ars Electronica Center and the Lentos Art Museum showcase new media art; ride up the Pöstlingberg for river views and take trips to St. Florian Monastery and the Mauthausen Memorial.

Linz lies in northern Austria and is the capital of Upper Austria and the country's third-largest city, with about 210,000 residents; the Danube flows through it from west to east. Once a center of steel and chemicals, it is now known for reinventing itself as a city of new media art: it was a European Capital of Culture in 2009 and has been designated a UNESCO City of Media Arts. Sightseeing falls into three parts. First, the old town on the south bank of the Danube, where the Hauptplatz with its Trinity Column, the Old Cathedral, Linz Castle and St. Martin's Church are all within walking distance; head south along the Landstraße shopping street to reach the New Cathedral and the Musiktheater. Second, the modern landmarks on both banks: Ars Electronica Center, the Lentos Art Museum and the Brucknerhaus face each other across the river, and further east are the Tabakfabrik, Mural Harbor and voestalpine Stahlwelt. Third, the Pöstlingbergbahn mountain tram up the Pöstlingberg for views over the whole city. Day trips include St. Florian Monastery, the Mauthausen Concentration Camp Memorial, Enns, Steyr, Wilhering and Kremsmünster abbeys, and Gmunden on the Traunsee. The best time to visit is May–Sep; September brings the Ars Electronica Festival and the Brucknerfest, and there are Christmas markets in winter. Getting around: from Linz Hauptbahnhof, trains reach Vienna in about 1 hr 15 min and Salzburg in about 1 hr; trams make getting around town easy, and the Linz Card can include public transport and discounts at sights. Allow 2 days: one for the old town and the Pöstlingberg, one for a monastery or the memorial. Most shops close on Sundays, and most museums close on Mondays. Don't miss a slice of Linzer torte.

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