Linz
The Province’s capital is an attractive town with a Baroque centre,
straddling the Danube. Any tour should take in the 15th-century Schloss
(castle) with its excellent museum, the numerous churches and museums,
especially the Neue Gallerie.
However, there are far more attractive offerings in the Urfahr suburb, with
its interactive new technology Ars Electronica Center, and the narrow-gauge
train, the Pöstlingbergbahn, which travels to the pilgrimage church of
Pöstlingberg with its excellent views over the valley. The Augustinian
Monastery of St Florian 7km (4 miles) from Linz was sponsored by the
Hapsburgs and is an attractive day trip for Linz. The major Nazi
concentration camp at Mauthausen, 20km (12 miles) east of Linz, is difficult
to access by public transport but is well worth a day trip.
Excursions
Bad Ischl, a 19th-century spa town, is the hub of the region, near the three
most scenic lakes, Wolfgangsee,Traunsee and Hallstättersee, the town
offerings include a salt mine, several museums and the summer villa of
Emperor Franz Josef.
Hallstatt lent its name to a whole era in the Iron Age, surrounded by
mountains it is known for its tranquility and scenery. The Mondsee is one of
the warmest lakes in the Salzkammergut. St Wolfgang does not only offer an
impressive altar, but a steam railway as well.
Gmunden, the Nice of Upper Austria, is known for its many cultural
festivals; located at the northern end of the Traunsee, the largest of the
area’s lakes, it has been famous for centuries for its porcelain.
The old city centres of Braunau and Schärding are not to be missed.
Freistadt has medieval forts, whilst Grein offers a navigation museum, Clam
Castle and the old theatre. Steyr, with its old inner city, delights
visitors with its Working-World Museum and the Christkindl pilgrimage
church. The National Park Kalkalpen in the Pyhrn-Eisenwurzen region is
primarily a mountainous environment.
Windischgarsten is an attractive town from which to explore the park. Much
of the interior of Upper Austria is little known to foreign tourists and
many towns including Bad Goisern, Gosau, Hinterstoder and Spital am Pyhrn
are attractive destinations for a quiet vacation. There are excellent skiing
facilities throughout the province.
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