Press release 2015 by the colourful danube linz transforms the danube – and vice versa

PRESS RELEASE 2015

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.

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

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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

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.

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

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/

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.

Tourist Information Linz; Hauptplatz 1, 4020 LINZ, AUSTRIA

Tel. +43 732 7070-2009 Email: tourist.info@linz.at; http://www.linz.at/english/tourism/

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