Page 196 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Austria

194  A USTRIA REGION B Y REGION

1 Linz E Linzer Schloss
Schlossberg 1. Tel (0732) 7720 523 00.
Straddling the Danube and surrounded by picturesque hills, Open 9am–6pm Tue–Wed & Fri,
Linz owes its former importance and wealth to its location at 9am–9pm Thu, 10am–5pm Sat,
an intersection of waterways. This strategic position led the Sun, public holidays. &
∑ landesmuseum.at
Romans to found a substantial settlement called Lentia on
the site, and since the 15th century, Linz has been the capital In the 15th century, Emperor
Friedrich III built his residence
of Upper Austria. The European Capital of Culture in 2009 on the Römerberg (Roman
and a UNESCO City of Media Arts, Linz is a vibrant city Mountain), on the foundations
with numerous galleries and museums, as well as the of an earlier structure. The castle
futurist Ars Electronica Center. It also claims the largest acquired its present shape
urban square in Europe and is home to Austria’s biggest between 1600 and 1607, and its
church, the Mariendom, or New Cathedral. distinctive silhouette has become
one of the most famous sights in
Linz. Since 1966, this former
imperial residence has housed
a branch of the Oberöster­
reichisches Landesmuseum.
Exhibits include paintings and
sculptures from early medieval
times to the 19th century and the
Secession, 12th–18th­century
arms, 16th–19th­century musical
instruments, furniture and
handicrafts, golden, ceramic and
glass objects, and a permanent
archaeological exhibition. Part
of the museum is devoted to
folk traditions; there’s a recon­
structed physics labo ratory from
the Jesuit school in Linz and the
Looking over the rooftops of Linz Schloss Weinberg pharmacy
(c.1700). From the castle, there
Exploring Linz and portals are particularly are superb views over Linz.
The town of Linz sprawls noteworthy. There was an older
across both banks of the Roman wall on the same site, P Landhaus
Danube, with the historic and ten Roman tombstones, Theatergasse 1. Tel (0732) 77200.
old town on the right (south) together with other ancient The regional government is
bank, in the bend of the river. stones, were used as building based in a Renaissance palace
The majority of the town’s material to erect the church. built on the site of a former
main sights are located near The interior dates from the Minorite monastery. Its north
the Hauptplatz. Europe’s Carolingian period, the only portal, on Klosterstrasse, is a
largest city square, it is some later addition being the Neo­ beautiful marble work by
13,200 sq m (142,000 sq ft), Gothic presbytery. The rainbow Renaissance artists. The inner
and is enclosed by magnificent arch that separates the nave courtyard is surrounded by a
Baroque buildings. The Ars from the presbytery and the colonnade. Here you will find
Electronica Center is situated north wall of the church are the Planetenbrunnen (Fountain
on the left (north) bank of adorned with 14th–15th­ of the Planets), built to com­
the Danube. century frescoes of the Virgin memorate the outstanding
Mary on a throne. Much of astro nomer and mathematician
R Martinskirche the interior can only be Johannes Kepler, who lectured
Römerstrasse/Martinsgasse. seen with a guide. at the college, then based in the
Tel (0732) 777454. 8 Landhaus, for 14 years (1612–
A modest façade hides what 26). The seven figures on the
is considered to be Austria’s fountain’s bronze plinth show
oldest surviving church. the planets known at the time.
Dedicated to St Martin, it Close by is the
was first mentioned in the Minoritenkirche, a former
8th century, during the time Minorite church, the
of Charlemagne, as part of earliest docu mented
the Carolingians’ former record of which is in
royal residence. The Gothic the town chronicles of
and Romanesque windows The tiny Martinskirche, Austria’s oldest church 1288. Altered in the
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp296–7 and pp320–21

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