10 Top-Rated Attractions & Things to Do in Linz
1. Tour the New Cathedral
The splendid New Cathedral (New Cathedral) – also known as the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, or Marindom – is a three-aisled basilica with nine Gothic columns of yellow sandstone surrounded by a ring of chapels. Built between 1862 and 1924 according to plans by Cologne architect Vincentian Steitz, this vast Roman Catholic church covers an area larger than Vienna’s St. Stephen’s Cathedral.
Highlights of the tour include a 135-meter-tall tower and a great organ built in 1968. Also, be sure to visit the crypt containing the tomb of the famous Linz Bishop Franz Josef Rüdiger. Also notable is his large nativity scene in the crypt.
The cathedral also has an impressive stained glass window. Known as the Linz Window, it reveals the history of the city. Next, be sure to visit the Bishop’s Palace (Bischöfliches Palais). Dating back to 1726 and originally part of the Kremsmünster Abbey, it is known for its unique iron gate and staircase built in 1227. Here, too, visitors are invited in droves.
2. Take a Tour of St. Florian Augustinian Abbey
Just 20 minutes south of Linz, St. Florian’s Abbey (Stift Sankt Florian) – the office of canons regular of the St. Augustine Order of St. Florian – dates back to AD 800 and was built over his grave. The name of the saint, a Roman official who was martyred in 304 AD because he had become a Christian. The current Baroque structure was built between 1686 and 1751 and is an important religious institute famous for its boys’ choir.
Highlights of the tour include the impressive main entrance with the large statues of Atlas and Virtue. the imposing Abbey Church, with its Baroque twin towers, stucco decorations, and Bruckner’s organ; and the crypt where the organist Anton Bruckner is buried. Also noteworthy are the Imperial Apartments (Kaiser Zimmer), once used by emperors and popes, and the St. Sebastian altarpiece with its early 14th-century paintings by Albrecht Altdorfer, head of the Danube School.
You will also have the opportunity to visit the impressive library with ceiling paintings, the Rococo Gallery and the Saint Florian art collection. There is a restaurant on site, and for a truly memorable experience, affordable bed and breakfast options are available at the guesthouse.
3. Linz Botanical Gardens
Close to the outskirts of the city, on the eastern slopes of Freiburg, a 30-minute walk from the city centre, you will find the wonderful Linz Botanical Gardens. Considered one of the most beautiful gardens in Europe, it is home to over 10,000 plant species spread across numerous attractive flower beds and five greenhouses. The garden contains many exotic specimens, including a large collection of cacti, a gorgeous rosarium, many alpine flowers, and a well-appointed tropical house. The Botanical Gardens host a number of events throughout the year, including flower shows and concerts.
Another fun outdoor attraction for kids is the family-friendly Linz Zoo. This fun zoo is home to more than 600 animals of various species. Highlights include a number of exotic species including monkeys, lizards, snakes, and birds in a tropical greenhouse. There are also a lot of pets that provide fun interactive experiences for kids.
4. Take a Drive to Wilhering Abbey
The small town of Wilhering is located about eight kilometers west of Linz on the south bank of the Danube. This quaint community is known for its Cistercian Abbey, which dates back to the 12th century. Founded in 1146 and rebuilt after a devastating fire in the 18th century, Stift Wilhering is well worth the short trip from Linz to explore, especially if you can do so by boat.
A highlight is the Abbey Gallery of Modern Art. Housed in a former guest house believed to be the oldest surviving part of the complex, it houses a number of paintings by Fritz Froehlich. The church is also worth a visit and features one of the finest Rococo interiors in Austria, along with several charming frescoes by B. Altomonte, including the Exaltation of the Mother of God. Also of note are the impressive choir stalls and wall tombs.
5. Voestalpine Steel World
Voestalpine Steel World (Voestalpine Stahlwelt) was created in recognition of Linz’s decades-long role as the center of Austria’s steel industry, and is well worth a visit. Built by Voestalpine AG, the country’s largest steelmaker, this impressive attraction is located in the heart of the country’s largest industrial park and offers a glimpse into the workings of the steel industry.
Visitors have the chance to enter a full-size replica of the blast furnace, along with several hands-on displays that show the manufacturing process from start to finish. Also of interest are the 80 large chromium-plated circles – some up to two and a half meters in diameter – illuminated to show the many uses of steel.
This resort is best enjoyed with an English-language tour (1.5-hour and three-hour options available). Afterwards, visit the on-site café that overlooks this still-running factory.
6. Enjoy a Stroll through the Hauptplatz and Landstrasse
The 1,200-meter-long Landstrasse promenade runs towards the main railway station and is the perfect place to start exploring Linz’s historic city center. To the east are the Ursuline Church (Ursulinenkirche) from 1772, and the Karmelitenkirche, built between 1674 and 1726. Another ancient church is the Seminarkirche (Seminarkirche), a small circular structure with a good interior. Built from 1717 to 25 for the Teutonic Order.
Another part of the Old Town to explore is the Hauptplatz, the original market square. This large public space, surrounded by beautiful Baroque buildings, is the heart of the old city. On its eastern side stands the 17th-century Rathaus and in front of it, in the middle of the square, is the Trinity Column (Dreifaltigkeitssäule), a 20-meter-high marble column intended to protect the city from the plague and the Turks. In 1723. attack. The Feichtinger Haus is located across from the Hotel Rathaus, with its pretty arcaded courtyard.
7. Take a Pilgrimage to Pöstlingberg
Above upper Linz is a prominent hill known as the Postlingberg. The best way to get here from the city center is via a narrow gauge electric railway, the Pöstlingbergbahn, which was built in 1898 and still carries thousands of riders each year along its five kilometer route. Once there, be sure to visit the impressive pilgrimage church. Built in 1748, its highlights include the beautiful 18th-century carved wooden Pietà, and its stunning views.
A fun ride in Postlingburg is the delightful Grottobahn, a more than 100-year-old attraction consisting of a narrow-gauge train resembling a dragon – known affectionately as the “Dragon Express” – that visitors can enjoy. Abad stems from a series of caves. By characters from famous fairy tales.
8. Visit the Old Cathedral
Often referred to as the Old Cathedral (altar dome) in Linz, the two-towered Jesuit Church of St. Ignatius (Ignatiuskirche) is famous for its rich Italianate decoration. Also noteworthy is its organ, made famous by Austrian composer Anton Bruckner and now known as the Bruckner Organ, as well as its high altar dating from 1683, and pulpit from 1678. Note also the large choir stalls carved in 1633 depicting the Strange Man. and animal characters as well as strange dwarfs.
The nearby Landhaus, seat of the provincial government of Upper Austria, is also of historical interest. Built in 1571 on the site of an old minori monastery, the building’s grand entrance bears the arms of the original Austrian provinces, while its main centerpiece is a fine arcaded courtyard that still hosts concerts. The focal point of the courtyard is the octagonal Planet Fountain from 1582. From 1612 to 1626 astronomer and scientist Johannes Kepler taught here at the college that once occupied the building.
9. The Mauthausen Memorial
The Mauthausen Memorial is an important monument that offers a glimpse into one of the darkest periods in Austria’s history. It was here that the Nazi regime detained approximately 200,000 people from nearly 40 countries from 1938 to 1945, an estimated 90,000 of whom died due to its brutal conditions.
The journey begins in the modern visitor centre, once an infirmary, where exhibits provide a chilling overview of life in a concentration camp and its network of subcamps in Austria. The show tells the stories of the rise of the Nazi party and the war, as well as the stories of some prisoners and survivors and their experiences trying to escape brutal camp conditions, as well as their post-liberation experiences.
A number of artifacts from the camp are also on display, such as a list of the names of more than 81,000 people who died here, many of whom died on the notorious mine ladder or “ladder of death”. Which can be seen and mounted. of your visit. There is a shop and café on site, as well as a resource library for those who want to do research.
A variety of English-language guided tours are available, including educational workshop options that provide an in-depth look at the history and workings of the camp, as well as its victims and survivors. There are also audio guides in English for those who want to make their way around the monument.
10. Take a Day Trip to the Old Town of Wels
About 35 km southwest of Linz is the ancient city of Wales. Thanks to its beautiful location on the left bank of the River Troon, hiking is a pleasure. Fun things to do here include a stroll around the historic Stadtplatz, a large open partly pedestrianized square with pretty old merchant houses and the symbol of the city, the Ledererturm, a large medieval tower built in 1376. Wasserturm. They form part of the ancient medieval walls).
On the south side of the square are two impressive Baroque buildings, the impressive Kremsmünsterer Hof, once part of Kremsmünster Abbey, and the 1748 Town Hall (Rathaus).
A little further south and well worth exploring is the small town of Windschgarsten, a popular winter sports and health resort in the Teichelbach river valley basin. Another fun day trip is Mühlviertel, northwest of Linz, famous for its excellent walking trail through a mixture of forests and fields, old castles and ruins, as well as its many quiet little market towns and villages.