PRESS RELEASE 2015
BY THE COLOURFUL DANUBE
LINZ TRANSFORMS THE DANUBE – AND VICE VERSA
As the city's full name expresses so succinctly, Linz lies on the Danube as few other Austrian cities
do. In 2015, the European Capital of Culture invites both its inhabitants and visitors to discover the
city on all levels, from the water.
In Linz, the Danube curves and changes direction – here, it changes its face. Is it just chance that
at exactly this point on the river, a city has emerged that has experienced many changes? "Lentos"
and "Lentia" are the Celtic and Roman names for Linz. Both refer to the river's change of course,
both also tell the story of Linz's transformations. For the moment, the last of these is that of the
booming industrial city to the European Capital of Culture.
More than just a landscape
Especially in Austria, the Danube is far more than the fascinatingly beautiful river landscape that
stretches from the bend known as the Schlögener Schlinge to Grein, via the Linz Basin and the
picturesque Strudengau region. Like a leitmotif, it runs through Linz's past and onwards into its
future. The churches, castles, fortresses and bridges on the Danube are steel and stone witnesses
to better, eventful and also more terrible times.
Route of kings
The Danube was no less than the "Route of Emperors and Kings". The Nibelungs, Roman emperors and crusaders travelled it, as did King Louis VII of France and Emperor Friedrich
Barbarossa with their entourage. In addition, the bridal journey of the Bavarian princess Sisi led
from Straubing to Passau, Linz and Vienna, at the end of the 19th century. There, she became
Empress Elisabeth of the Habsburgs' multinational state, also known as the Danube Monarchy, the
hymn of which was sung in 11 languages. www.strassederkaiserundkoenige.com
Press contact: Mag. Gisela Müller
4020 Linz, Austria, Adalbert-Stifter-Platz 2
Email: gisela.mueller@linztourismus.at I Tel. +43 732 7070-2937
www.linz.at/tourismus I www.linztourismus.at
Photo material at www.flickr.com/linz_inside
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Border …
Over centuries, the river was alternately a dividing line and connecting link between the cultures
and regions on its banks. As the "limes", it already served as a boundary between the Roman
Empire and the lands of the "barbarians" to the north of the Danube more than 2,000 years ago.
Roman emperors from Vespasian to Marcus Aurelius created that which was unimaginable for the
simple rural population at the time: the stone frontier fortifications right down to the Black Sea.
Even in the 20th century, the borders of the occupation zones after the Second World War ran
along the Danube and made Linz a divided city. Later, during the Cold War, parts of the Iron
Curtain fell along the Danube. www.donau-limes.at
… and connecting link
And yet the Danube was always more than just an embankment of water. Time and again, it made
possible trans-regional links of a political or economic nature, or otherwise. Along the Danube,
Christian missionaries spread not only their faith, but also cultural skills, from the alphabet to
agriculture and horticulture. The numerous monasteries on the banks of the Danube were not just
spiritual, but also powerful regional centres of development. Linz's rich baroque heritage, with its
unique Hauptplatz, goes back to the Counter-Reformation that began in the churches and
monasteries. By enchanting the world with baroque, the Catholic Church attempted to oppose
progressive Protestantism.
Ingenious!
In Linz, the innovative spirit of the founders of culture has stayed alive. Today, prime examples of
companies are situated on the Danube, such as voestalpine, which also ships its steel beyond the
Danube and all over the world, the shipyard, which is rich in tradition, and many software
developers. Numerous leading and internationally successful businesses are based in Linz. Today,
the city is the centre of the recently founded European Danube-Vltava region. The Danube's role
here goes far beyond that of a namesake.
Feel Europe
Linz demonstrates to the rest of Europe that the Danube stands for dynamism and contact in
culture and the economy. As a trade route, the Danube has remained indispensable since early
times. For example, in everyday Linz it now conveys a sense of Europe. If you watch the ships
from many different countries on their passage through Linz, often bearing Cyrillic lettering, the
concept of Europe will become tangible.
Press contact: Mag. Gisela Müller
4020 Linz, Austria, Adalbert-Stifter-Platz 2
Email: gisela.mueller@linztourismus.at I Tel. +43 732 7070-2937
www.linz.at/tourismus I www.linztourismus.at
Photo material at www.flickr.com/linz_inside
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Anniversary year 2015
Linz has many historical reasons for being a city of peace – and a historical obligation. Linz was
the city of Hitler's youth, for which he is known to have had great plans as a cultural city of the
Reich. It is another stroke of fate in the city's history that, for the most part, these plans did not
materialise.
2015 is the anniversary of two great historical events that have been etched deep into the history
of the Danube area: The year 2015 will be the seventieths anniversary of the end of the Second
World War and sixty years ago the Austrian State Treaty had been signed at the Belvedere Palace.
Since then, the people on the Danube have become closer to one another than ever before. Linz,
the city of peace, has also tried to contribute to this through international commitment.
To be human …
In Linz, the experience of the Danube fits into the wonderful resolution of numerous centuries-old
conflicts. Here, the fascination that is Europe lives on, through the tolerant acceptance of cultural
differences. People are highly valued in Linz. And also in the successful economy, which concerns
itself not only with satisfactory profits and capital, but also with the human aspect.
… Vitality
Linz cultivates vitality and culture, and particularly on the Danube, this comes to obvious fruition.
The Danube is a stage for life in Linz, on which relaxation and gentle excursions are given pride of
place. A good 40,000 travellers on river cruise ships make a stop in Linz every year, and 70,000
touring cyclists travel to the city on the Danube Cycle Path, which celebrated its 30th anniversary
in 2014.
In Linz, you experience a historical awareness with your senses, since the local dining and drinking
culture owes a lot to the history of the Danube. That includes the coffee tradition and the Linzer
Torte, which both have strong Ottoman links. It also includes the wine and the Wiener Schnitzel.
The colourful Danube
The river is the best place to discover how ambitiously Linz has spread out in recent years,
particularly towards the Danube. For a long time, the Danube has not been blue here, as the
popular Strauss waltz suggests, but colourful. And not only at night, when the sensuous
illuminations reflect the distinctive outlines of the cultural buildings – the Brucknerhaus, the Lentos
Kunstmuseum Linz and the Ars Electronica Center – in the water. Linz's cityscape also leaves a
lasting impression during the day.
Space for art on the river
The Danube in Linz is a space for art – an open-air museum where world-class artworks of steel
are presented between striking buildings such as the Lentos Kunstmuseum Linz, the Brucknerhaus
and the Tabakfabrik. They are works by artists like David Rabinowitch, Mathias Goeritz and Herbert
Press contact: Mag. Gisela Müller
4020 Linz, Austria, Adalbert-Stifter-Platz 2
Email: gisela.mueller@linztourismus.at I Tel. +43 732 7070-2937
www.linz.at/tourismus I www.linztourismus.at
Photo material at www.flickr.com/linz_inside
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Bayer, and are testimony to the epoch-making "forum metall" in 1977. In Linz, you can also
experience how the Danube fused many different artistic movements, which consequently underwent a revival – be it the Donauschule in the 15th century or the Bauhaus movement in the 20th.
http://www.linz.at/english/culture/89.asp
Make discoveries
Visitors to Linz are invited to discover something new. To explore historical, cultural and other
connections in a way that excites all the senses enriches your stay with meaning.
Linz uses the reflections of the past on the Danube to look towards the future. The successful and
liveable city on the Danube helps the potential and connections of this European river of history
and culture to be seen from a new perspective, and to be continued.
Anniversary year 2015
70 years end of the Second World War
60 years Austrian State Treaty
20 years EU accession of Austria
80 years completion Mariendom
60 years blue danube airport Linz
80 years Tabakfabrik Linz
210. birthday Adalbert Stifter
Event tips 2015 – a selection
2nd of February
“Thank you for the music” – The ABBA Story
Brucknerhaus
19th – 22nd of March
MUSEUM TOTAL
main museums of Linz
NEXTCOMIC Festival
OÖ Kulturquartier
19. Linz marathon
city centre
19th
–
22nd
of March
19th of April
23rd
–
28th
of April
15th-17th of May
CROSSING EUROPE – European movie festival
OÖ Kulturquartier
LINZFEST 2015
Along the Danube
5th – 6th of June
BUBBLEDAYS
harbour of Linz
26th-27th of June
UFERN (small festival along the Danube)
Danube beach / Alt-Urfahr
23rd – 25th of July
Pflasterspektakel
city centre
3rd – 7th of September
Ars Electronica Festival
Ars Electronica Center
5th of September
Voestalpine Klangwolke (visualised)
alonge thebank of the Danube
13th of September – 4th of October
International Brucknerfestival
Brucknerhaus
Exhibitions 2015
All year round
All year round
Art and Cultural History
Technology and Nature in Upper Austria
Project Genesis, GeoPulse
New Views of Humankind
Schlossmuseum Linz
Ars Electronica Center
Press contact: Mag. Gisela Müller
4020 Linz, Austria, Adalbert-Stifter-Platz 2
Email: gisela.mueller@linztourismus.at I Tel. +43 732 7070-2937
www.linz.at/tourismus I www.linztourismus.at
Photo material at www.flickr.com/linz_inside
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All year round
All year round
Till
2nd
Till
15th
of February
of February
13th of March – 7th of June
28th
voestalpine Stahlwelt
Nativity exhibition
Schlossmuseum
PURE WATER
The Most Valuable Resource in the World
Till 22nd of March
17th
voestalpine Stahlwelt - The Steelworks on the
River
Kubinkabinett
Landesgalerie Linz
Lentos Kunstmuseum
KUNSTGENUSS ESSEN – the enjoyment of
art and eating
LOVE AND LOSS -
Nordico city museum
Lentos Kunstmuseum
of April –
26th
of October
Separated City - Linz from 1945 to 1955
Nordico city museum
of May –
18th
of October
HOEHENRAUSCH 2015
OK Kulturquartier
Boat trip 2015 – http://www.linz.at/english/tourism/917.asp
More information to come
A resounding weekend in Linz from 99.00 EUR per person!
Including 3 days/2 nights in a double room with breakfast buffet, Linz Card (3-day card, incl. use of
public transport, admission to all Linz museums and €10.00 Danube Culture Voucher for concerts
and theatre, as well as €5.00 Gastro Voucher), and much more. http://www.linz.at/english/tourism/
or http://www.linztourismus.at/en/wochenende/
Central location
Linz, the capital of Upper Austria, has a central location and an excellent infrastructure. Linz
Hauptbahnhof was awarded the title of the most beautiful railway station in Austria for the seventh
time in a row and the blue danube airport linz can be reached quickly. But the Danube is also used
for travel by ship, by bike along the Danube Cycle Path or on foot on the long-distance Donausteig
trail.
Information & Booking
http://www.linztourismus.at/en/
Tourist Information Linz; Hauptplatz 1, 4020 LINZ, AUSTRIA
Tel. +43 732 7070-2009 Email: tourist.info@linz.at; http://www.linz.at/english/tourism/
Press contact: Mag. Gisela Müller
4020 Linz, Austria, Adalbert-Stifter-Platz 2
Email: gisela.mueller@linztourismus.at I Tel. +43 732 7070-2937
www.linz.at/tourismus I www.linztourismus.at
Photo material at www.flickr.com/linz_inside
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Interactive Linz
The Capital of Culture on the Internet – explore it interactively, take part in discussions and share
your impressions:
http://www.linztourismus.at/en – Tips and info from Linz.
www.facebook.com/linz.austria – The platform for posts from and about the city on the Danube.
www.xing.com/net/linz – The network for all Linz enthusiasts.
www.flickr.com/linz_inside – Picture gallery and press photos from Linz.
www.youtube.com/linzbewohnerin – Videos from Linz to browse and link.
www.wikitude.com/world – "Linz.verändert, Stadterlebnis" for a discovery tour of Linz with your
smartphone.
LINZ APP
Download the LINZ APP free of charge in the Google Play Store, as well as in the
iTunes Store – it's your guide through the city, with tips for eating out, the sights
and public transport.
Press contact: Mag. Gisela Müller
4020 Linz, Austria, Adalbert-Stifter-Platz 2
Email: gisela.mueller@linztourismus.at I Tel. +43 732 7070-2937
www.linz.at/tourismus I www.linztourismus.at
Photo material at www.flickr.com/linz_inside
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