!!!Linz
Linz, Upper Austria, statutory town in the district of Linz, alt.
266 m, pop. 203,044, area 96.11 km%%sup 2/%, capital of the
province of Upper Austria and third biggest city of Austria. At the
foot of the Poestlingberg mountain (alt. 539 m), municipal area
on both sides of the Danube, which flows through the "Linzer Pforte"
gap out of a narrow valley of a granite plateau into the Linz Basin;
historic part of the town on the south bank of the Danube, connected
with the northern part Urfahr by 2 road bridges and 1 railway bridge.
In the west Kuernberger Wald Mountain, ( Freinberg Mountain, alt.
328 m), north-west ( Poestlingberg Mountain) and north-east
(Steyregger Woods, Pfennigberg mountain, alt. 616 m) surrounded
by hills, Linz stretches in the south-east across the floodplains of
the Danube and across the area where the River Traun flows into the
Danube. In the vicinity, Lake Weikerlsee, a popular bathing area.
Cadastral districts Ebelsberg, Katzbach, Kleinmuenchen, Linz,
Lustenau, Moenchgraben, Pichling, Posch, Poestlingberg,
St. Peter, Ufer, Urfahr, Waldegg, Wambach. - Seat of provincial
government, provincial diet and all provincial (school inspection,
police headquarters, welfare and disability offices, etc.) and
district authorities, provincial high court and court of appeal,
provincial court and provincial court prison, police headquarters,
inland revenue office, regional head office of Post and Telekom
Austria AG, provincial press centre, provincial board of musical
directors, radio station, customs office, district authorities for the
districts of Linz-Land and Urfahr-Umgebung; Federal Office of Weights,
Measures and Surveying, Federal Asylum Office, Federal Monuments
Office, Federal Police Headquarters and Federal Railways Headquarters,
Federal Office for Quality Assessment, Administrative office for
Federal Buildings, Federal Institutes for Agrobiology, Veterinary
Research and Food Research, Federal Bacteriological-Serological
Research Institute, Federal Library, Federal Office for the
Advancement of Adult Education, military base of Upper Austria,
artillery and Hiller barracks, electricity and port authorities
(shipping police), electricity board, several health insurance
offices, several newspapers and numerous advisory centres, Economic
Chamber, Chamber of Labour, Chamber of Agricultural and Allied
Workers, Chamber of Agriculture, further chambers and professional
associations, Upper Austrian fruit exchange, Austrian commodity
exchange, hospitals (General Hospital, Brothers Hospitallers, Sisters
of Mercy, Hospital of the Inner Mission, Elisabethine Hospital,
Provincial Clinic for Nervous Complaints, Wagner-Jauregg Psychiatric
Hospital, Accident hospital of Allgemeine Unfallversicherungsanstalt,
provincial clinic for children, provincial clinic for women,
outpatient care); bishopric (diocesan authorities, seminary),
Protestant superintendent; various religious communities (Jewish
Community, Baptists, Old Catholic Church, New Apostolic Church, Islam,
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Mennonite Brotherhood,
Methodists, Jehovah´s Witnesses), Jesuit theological college and
numerous religious orders, daycare centres, 9 youth centres, 4 youth
information centres, children´s village for handicapped
children, youth centres, children´s homes and student hostels,
student residences, 10 nursing homes and homes for the elderly, 30
clubs for senior citizens, several consulates, ORF (Austrian
Broadcasting Company) broadcasting station for the province of Upper
Austria, Oberoesterreichische Vision, TV 3 - city television, several
regional radio stations, provincial theatre, Theater Phoenix, Theater
des Kindes, Kuddelmuddel Ich und Du, Kellertheater, Brucknerhaus
concert hall and congress centre, Posthof cultural centre,
Stadtwerkstatt, Kulturplattform Oberoesterreich, Francisco Carolinum
provincial museum, Schlossmuseum, Nordico Museum of the City of Linz,
New Gallery - Wolfgang Gurlitt museum, Ars Electronica Centre ("Museum
of the Future"), O.K Centre of Contemporary Art, Ursulinenhof
provincial cultural centre, Jaegermeierhof Chamber of Labour Education
Centre, St. Magdalena Centre for Education, Kremsmuenster
Stiftshaus, provincial institute for popular education and local
heritage studies, Botanical gardens, natural history centre,
Linz-Dornach biology centre, design centre, Vereinszentrum hall, LIVA
- Linzer Veranstaltungsgesellschaft sports facilities, stadium, Stadt-
und Sporthalle event and sports facility, ice sports centre, 2
district sports facilities, four public indoor pools, university
library and provincial library for teachers, public library of the
City of Linz (head office, musical library, library for nature and
environment and 14 branch offices); Upper Austrian provincial library,
Upper Austrian provincial archives, archives of the city of Linz,
Ebelsberg sports and recreational facilities, skateboard park,
Johannes-Kepler University, University of Artistic and Industrial
Design, Catholic Theological University, centre for distance learning
at Johannes-Kepler University, schools: 3 Bundesgymnasium, 7
Bundesrealgymnasium secondary schools, Bundesgymnasium and
commercially-oriented Bundesrealgymnasium, Bundesgymnasium and
Bundesrealgymnasium fuer Berufstaetige (evening/part-time secondary
schools), Bundesoberstufenrealgymnasium, (upper-level Gymnasium)
Akademisches Gymnasium, Bischoefliches Gymnasium Kollegium Petrinum,
Gymnasium und Realgymnasium des Schulvereines Kollegium Aloisianum,
upper-level Gymnasium run by the diocese, Gymnasium and
commercially-oriented Realgymnasium of the Sisters of Mercy of the
Holy Cross, Waldorf school, 2 business schools, 2 Hoehere Lehranstalt
fuer wirtschaftliche Berufe (advanced-level commercial schools), 2
Hoehere Technische Lehranstalt (advanced-level school of engineering),
Hoehere Bundeslehranstalt fuer Kunstgewerbe (advanced-level school of
arts and crafts), Hoehere Bundeslehranstalt fuer Land- und
Hauswirtschaft Elmberg, (advanced-level school of agriculture and
domestic science) Hoehere gewerbliche Lehranstalt (Mode und
Bekleidungstechnik) (advanced-level school of fashion and
dressmaking), 10 vocational schools (Berufschule), Paedagogische
Akademie des Bundes in Oberoesterreich (federal teacher training
academy), Paedagogische Akademie der Dioezese Linz (training academy
for elementary teachers and teachers for Hauptschulen of the diocese
of Linz), Religionspaedagogische Akademie (training academy for
teachers of Religious Instruction), Berufspaedagogische Akademie des
Bundes (training academy for vocational school teachers), 2
Bundesanstalt fuer Kindergartenpaedagogik (nursery-school teacher
training institute), Academy for Welfare Work, Academy for Medical
Professions, Academy for Labour Medicine, Federal Institute of
Physical Education, adult education centre, Berufsfoerderungsinstitut
professional centre, Vocational Guidance and Rehabilitation Centre,
WIFI, Linz International Management Training college, Bruckner
conservatory, music school, Environmental Academy of Upper Austria,
A.-Stifter Institute, Dr.-Karl-Renner Institute, Institute for Organic
Architecture, 4 L.-Boltzmann Institutes, Research Institute for
Environmental Information Science, Linz Institute for Peace Research
(Socio-Psychological Research Department of the Austrian Institute for
Peace Research), Linz harbour, foreign sea and river shipping
agencies, central railway station and freight station; railway
stations Linz-Kleinmuenchen, Linz-Stadthafen, Linz-Urfahr,
Linz-Wegscheid; bus terminal, track mountain railway on the
Poestlingberg mountain (steepest adhesion worked railway in Central
Europe), Grottenbahn fairy-tale train ride, Linz-Hoersching airport,
two district-heating power stations (built in 1970 and 1994),
run-of-river power station Kleinmuenchen (built in 1978, 11 MW).
Each summer, LinzFest festival and Pflasterspektakel street
performers´ event, each autumn Ars Electronica, award of Prix
Ars Electronica, International Bruckner Festival, Linzer Klangwolke
music festival, in spring and autumn Urfahraner Jahrmarkt fair.
\\
''Economy:'' In spite of its being a highly developed industrial
centre, the Linz service sector is steadily growing. In 1991 about
66 % of the 145,076 gainfully employed people worked in services,
by 1999 this percentage had increased to about 75% of 180,000. About
one sixth of the 6,200 companies based in Linz is in manufacturing,
with the metal branch predominating. The most important employer in
the Linz area is VOEST-Alpine Stahl Linz GmbH ( VOEST-ALPINE STAHL AG)
with a staff of 8,200, followed by VOEST-Alpine Machinery Construction
& Engineering GmbH, VOEST-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH and VA TECH
ELIN EBG GmbH which are all parts of the VA Technologie AG Group.
Other significant industries include the building industry, metallurgy
facility construction and machine engineering ( Plasser & Theurer),
automation technology, food and beverages industry and the chemical
and pharmaceutical industries ( Agrolinz Melamin GmbH), DSM Fine
Chemicals Austria GmbH). In the services sector wholesale and retail
establishments, banks and insurance companies, business services and
social and public services are among the most important employers.
\\
''History:'' The importance of this settlement in earlier times is
characterised by the Danube transport route, which stretches in a
west-east direction and which is crossed in a south-north direction by
the transversal route from the Adriatic Sea to the Baltic Sea. Some
Palaeolithic objects have been found, proven evidence of continuous
colonisation of the area of Linz since the Neolithic period (burial
sites from the early Bronze Age, urnfield period and Hallstatt period
in the former village of St. Peter, today industrial area, and Celtic
ramparts on the Freinberg and Gruendberg mountains). In the
2%%sup nd/% half of the 1%%sup st/% century A.D. the Romans
constructed a camp together with a civilian settlement (which never
received the status of a town) in the area of Roemerberg mountain and
west of the axis Hauptplatz-Landstrasse. The Roman name "Lentia"
derives from the Celtic root "lentos" (= flexible, bent), which is
interpreted as settlement at the curve of the river (Danube). In the
village of St. Peter two Bavarian burial sites have been
discovered (7%%sup th/% century).
\\
First documented mention of the village "Linze" with Martinskirche
church and "castrum" (fortified settlement, presumably in the west) in
799. The Raffelstetten Customs Regulations identifies Linz during the
Carolingian period as the central village of Traungau, with market and
customs regulations. Around 1205/1206 the settlement was given to the
Babenbergs by the Haunspergs. The Babenbergs enlarged the village by
laying out the main square (ring of walls from the castle across
promenade and Graben to the Danube). The settlement developed its town
character in the 1%%sup st/% half of the 13%%sup th/% century. The
wall encircling the town was razed after a fire in 1800. The first
bridge across the Danube was built in 1497. At the end of the
13%%sup th/% century Linz had become the administrative centre of the
province, with the seat of the "Hauptmann (governor) ob der Enns".
Duke Albrecht VI made the town his official residence, Emperor
Friedrich III lived there between 1484/85 and 1489-1493. Under
his reign Linz was called "capital" of the province for the first
time. In the following years the town continued to be the preferred
retreat for the Court whenever war (with the Turks) or epidemics
(plague) were imminent.
\\
First signs of the Reformation are detectable in the 20s of the
16%%sup th/% century; around 1600 the Counter-Reformation started,
which brought several religious orders to Linz in the following years.
In 1783/85 Linz became a bishopric. From the Middle Ages the town had
to resist several wars and sieges, of which the peasants´
uprising under S. Fadinger (1626), the occupation during the Austrian
War of Succession (1741/42) and the triple occupation during the
Coalition Wars against Napoleon (1800/01, 1805/06, 1809) had the most
disastrous consequences. The economic importance of Linz was promoted
by two trade fairs, which were widely recognised as important trading
events from the end of the Middle Ages onwards. In 1672 the Linz
woollen factory was established as the first industrial workshop of
the monarchy. The horse tram from Linz to Budweis (1832) and to
Gmunden (1836) was the first railway of the continent and was mainly
used for the transport of salt, but also for passenger traffic.
Industrialisation starting in the 2%%sup nd/% half of the
19%%sup th/% century (textile industry, shipyard, engine works, food,
beverage and tobacco industry) led to an extension of the town by
including the following districts: 1873 Lustenau and Waldegg, 1915
St. Peter, 1919 Urfahr and Poestlingberg, 1923 Kleinmuenchen,
1938 St. Magdalena and Ebelsberg, 1939 Keferfeld (part of
Leonding).
\\
On February 12, 1934 the civil war started from Linz ( February 1934
Uprising). During the Nazi era the town became a centre of the
armaments industry. Plans for monumental construction along the banks
of the Danube and the building of a boulevard were never carried out.
22 air raids (1944/45) caused extensive destruction. Between 1945-1955
Urfahr was part of the Soviet zone of occupation and had its own town
administration. With the development of heavy industry after the
2%%sup nd/% World War (VOEST Stickstoffwerke, shipyard) Linz became
the centre of Austrian heavy industry. This change from a typical
provincial town into a modern industrial and, at the same time, a
cultural town with the corresponding infrastructure can be seen very
clearly in the townscape. Linz is expanding rapidly, particularly to
the south and south-west, where it is merging with the rapidly growing
neighbouring towns of Leonding, Traun and Ansfelden. The commuter
catchment area comprises the entire Muehlviertel region and stretches
beyond Wels, Steyr and Enns.
\\
''Religous buildings:'' The historic centre of Linz is mainly of
Baroque character: Old Cathedral (1669-1678), presumably built by
P. F. Carlone as Jesuit church with choir stalls (1633) from the
collegiate church of Garsten and organ (1789) by F. X. Chrismann
from Engelszell (A. Bruckner was organist of the cathedral there
between 1855-1868); Capuchin church (1606-1612, 1660-1662 enlarged,
since 1784 parish church) with altar panel by J. v. Sandrart,
Gothic Madonna and memorial for the conqueror of the Turks, R.
Montecuccoli; Carmelite church (1674 and 1690-1726) with altar panel
by M. Altomonte, C. G. Carlone and C. v. Reslfeld; town
parish church (mentioned in 1286; rebuilt 1649-1656, enlarged
1687-1694) with altar panels by C. v. Reslfeld and in the style
of B. Altomonte, with tombstone of Emperor Friedrich III (heart
and entrails buried here); on the outer wall of the chancel,
Johann-Nepomuk statue (1727) by G. R. Donner; Church of the
Hospitallers (1713-1716 begun by J. M. Prunner, extended
1729-1732, consecrated in 1743, modified between 1929 and 1932) with
altar panel by M. J. Schmidt and hospital of 1908 and 1978;
former Church of the Teutonic Order, today Seminary Church (built
between 1718-1725 according to drafts by J. L. v.
Hildebrandt under J. M. Prunner), with altar panel by M.
Altomonte; Elisabethine Church (1736-1772) with frescos by B.
Altomonte and M. Dollicher; classicist façade (monastery
1745-1749 and 1754-1757 by J. M. Krinner and F. A. Pilgram);
modern hospital since 1957 in several stages; Landhaus Church, former
Church of the Friars Minor (documented mention in 1288), rebuilt
between 1751-1758 by J. M. Krinner with altar panels by
M. J. Schmidt and B. Altomonte; Ursulinen Church (1736-1772 by J.
Haslinger and J.M. Krinner) with altar panels by B. and M. Altomonte,
Ursuline convent (1690-1723 by G. and F. M. Pruckmayr) since 1977
provincial cultural centre. Freinberg Church (1829-1840) with Jesuit
boarding school (1851-1853 and 1860); New Cathedral (1862-1924 in the
style of French Gothic cathedrals according to plans by V. Statz with
tower 135 m high), important Historicist building with tombstone
of the bishops of Linz, and crib; Holy Family parish church (1907-1912
by M. Schlager); Sacred Heart Church (1901-1903 by R. Jeblinger) with
Redemptorist monastery (1899-1900); Kleinmuenchen parish church
(documented mention in 1290, rebuilt between 1905-1906 by M.
Schlager); Friedenskirche Church in Urfahr (1933/34 and 1949-1951
according to plans by P. Behrens, A. Popp and H. Feichtelbauer and H.
Foschum); Michaelskirche church on Bindermichl hill (1954-1957,
according to plans by F. Reischl); Theresienkirche church in Keferfeld
(1959-1962 by R. Schwarz); Konradskirche church on Froschberg hill
(1959-1961 by G. Nobl and O. Kainz); Leopoldskirche church on Auberg
hill (1969-1971 by G. Nobl); Protestant Martin-Luther Church
(1842-1844); Protestant Reconciliation Church in Dornach (1996/97 by
R. Rainer); synagogue (1876/77, destroyed 1938; 1966-1968 rebuilt by
F. Goffitzer). A particularly precious monument of art history is the
Martinskirche church west of the palace; the original central building
(first documented mention in 799) has a Roman stove, construction
elements and Carolingian ornaments from the 8%%sup th/% century,
Romanesque and Gothic architectural components, Gothic frescos and a
Gothic chancel from the 15%%sup th/% century.
\\
''Secular buildings:'' Landhaus (1564-1571) with "Steinerner Saal",
Renaissance north portal (around 1570) and arcades with three storeys
(1568-1574) with Planetenbrunnen fountain (1582), 1574-1627 seat of
the "Landschaftsschule" where J. Kepler taught; old town hall
(1513/14 new building, 1658/59 adaptations); Bischofshof (1721-1726),
built as Kremsmuensterer Hof according to plans by J. Prandtauer;
Kremsmuensterer Stiftshaus (1579/80 by C. Canevale); Nordisches Stift
collegiate church (1608/09) by F. Silva, enlarged between 1675-1677,
since 1973 Nordico town museum; Prunerstift (1734-1738), since 1979
music school; provincial theatre with Empire façade (1802/03),
rebuilding of Grosses Haus 1955-1958 and of Kammerspiele (theatres)
1956-1958 according to plans by C. Holzmeister; Kreuzschwesternschule
(1926/27 built to plans of C. Holzmeister); crematorium with urn
cemetery (1926-1931) by J. Schulte, H. Arndt and P. Theer; tobacco
factory (1929-1935) by P. Behrens and A. Popp; Disterweg school
(1929-1931) by C. Kuehne; Nibelungen bridge (1938-1940) by K.
Schaechterle and F. Tamms; bridgehead constructions (1940-1943) by R.
Fick; several housing developments (from 1939): Bindermichl,
Spallerhof, Keferfeld, Froschberg, Neue Heimat and in Urfahr. After
1945 numerous modern housing estates were built. Main railway station
(1945-1950) by A. Wilhelm; branch office of National Bank (1951-1953
by E. Boltenstern and E. Wachberger); Institute of Economic
Development (1960-1966 by H. Aigner and E. Hismayr); Johannes-Kepler
University (1964, ongoing expansion); Brucknerhaus (1969-1974 by H.
and K. Siren); VOEST-bridge (1969-1972); Steyregg bridge (1976-1979);
New town hall (1979-1985 by R. Falkner and A. Fuertler); from the mid
1980s, large housing projects, e.g. Auwiesen, Ennsfeld, Kastgruende,
Auhoffeld, Pulvermuehlstrasse. Design-Centre (1991-1993 by T. Herzog).
Ars Electronica Center - Museum der Zukunft ("Museum of the
Future") (1994-1996).
\\
''Castles and Palaces:'' Castle (documented mention in 1286,
presumably not identical with "castrum" of 799) with Friedrichstor
portal, blazon (1481) and ramped wall, rebuilt between 1604-1614,
partly destroyed by fire in 1800, temporary residence of
Friedrich III and Albrecht VI, from the times of
Joseph II used as military hospital, prison, barracks and refugee
camp, after restoration from 1959-1966, today houses the provincial
museum Francisco Carolinum; as fortification originally 32 round
towers in the form of a "fortified camp" around the town with Fort
Poestlingberg built under archduke Maximilian d´Este
(1831-1837); Bergschloessl (1718); Auhof (core 16%%sup th/% century,
façade and roof 18%%sup th/% century), today office of the
rector of the university; Ebelsberg Palace.
\\
''Monuments:'' Peace Obelisk (1650); Fadinger column (1702 and 1769);
Trinity column (1717-1723); Stifter monument (1902 by H. Rathausky);
Stelzhamer monument (1908 by F. Metzner); "Freude am Schoenen" ("The
Joy of Beauty") (1908 by A. Hanak); Forum Metall (sculptures in
Donaupark 1977).
\\
In 1997 the parks and green spaces had an area of
53.82 km%%sup 2/%, 47.75 km%%sup 2/% of which were wooded
and green areas and 6.07 km%%sup 2/% are bodies of water:
Volksgarten, Bauernberg- and Freinberganlagen, botanical gardens,
Schlossberg gardens, Donaupark, Wasserwald/Volkspark Kleinmuenchen
recreational area, Erholungspark
\\
Urfahr recreational area, Bergschloessl-Park, Hummelhofwald forest,
Pichlinger Au riverine wetlands and others.
!Literature
L. Regesten, 1952ff.; Jahrbuch der Stadt Linz, 1935-1937
and 1949-1954; Historisches Jahrbuch der Stadt Linz, 1955ff.;
Naturkundliches Jahrbuch der Stadt Linz, 1955ff.; Kunstjahrbuch der
Stadt Linz, 1961ff.; Linz. Archaeologische Forschungen, 1962ff.; J.
Schmidt, Die Linzer Kirchen (Oe. Kunsttopographie 36), 1964;
Oesterreichisches Staedtebuch, vol. I, Oberoesterreich, 1968; A.
Wied et al., Die profanen Kunstdenkmaeler der Stadt Linz. Die
Altstadt, 1977; O. Constantini, Stadtfuehrer Linz, 1980; W. Katzinger,
Linz. Chronik, 1984; H. Thaler et al., Die profanen Bau- und
Kunstdenkmaeler der Stadt Linz (Oe. Kunsttopographie 50), 1986; W.
Knoglinger, 500 Jahre Linz Landeshauptstadt, 1989; O. Ruhsam,
Historische Bibliographie der Stadt Linz, 1989; F. Mayrhofer and W.
Katzinger, Geschichte der Stadt Linz, 2 vols., 1990; H. Lackner
and G. Stadler, Fabriken in der Stadt, 2 vols., 1990; R.
Zinnhobler, Kirche in Linz, 1990; H. Ebner, J. Ebner and R.
Weissengruber, Literatur in Linz, 1991; S. Groessing et al., Sport in
Linz, 1992; I. Andruchowitz, Schule in einer Provinzialhauptstadt,
1994; H. Schimek and F. X. Goldner, Stadt Bau Kunst, 1997.
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