Modern architecture along the Danube river, old town, and castle of Linz

Our tour begins at the Ars Electronica Center, which opened in 1996 as the Museum of the Future. From there, we stroll to the Nibelungen Bridge and cross the Danube—Europe’s largest river. As early as 1500, one of Austria’s earliest bridges spanning the Danube stood at this site. Centuries later, a horse-drawn railway crossed the bridge, and in the early 1940s, it was rebuilt into the form we see today.
We then make our way through the medieval old town, ascending to the castle built in 1477 on the site of a Roman fort dating back to around the year 800. From this vantage point, we enjoy sweeping views of the Danube and the city of Linz.
St. Mary’s Cathedral (Mariendom), Austria’s largest church, captivates visitors with its 77 stained-glass windows. From the main square (Hauptplatz)—where the famous plague column (Pestsäule) stands—we continue to the Donaulände. Here, in 1974, the semicircular Brucknerhaus marked the beginning of modern architecture in Linz. To this day, it remains the venue for the annual Linzer Klangwolke.
Our path then leads us through the architecturally impressive Lentos Kunstmuseum, built in 2003 right on the banks of the Danube. From there, we cross the river once more and return to the Ars Electronica Center, concluding our tour.