Explore Linz

Why visit Linz

Linz used to be the steel-and-chemicals town that everyone passed through on the way to Vienna; today it's one of Austria's most interesting cultural pivots. The Ars Electronica Center sits on the Danube like a glowing glass cube, dedicated entirely to the intersection of art, technology, and society — it grew out of the festival that has been running here since 1979. Across the river, Lentos Art Museum (another illuminated waterfront box) houses Klimt, Schiele, and a strong modernist collection. The main square, Hauptplatz, is one of the largest enclosed plazas in central Europe, anchored by the white marble Trinity Column. From there, the historic Pöstlingbergbahn — one of the steepest adhesion railways in the world — climbs to a pilgrimage basilica with sweeping views over the city and Danube valley. And yes, the Linzer Torte was invented here, with documented recipes going back to 1653.