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Like most cities in Austria, the city of Linz
is based on the Roman expansion to the North. The bending
of the River Danube made this territory a strategic point
and a small castle fortified it. The castle and its settlements
where named Lentia. Linz was first mentioned
in 799 AD, when the Bavarians expanded to the South and this
area was transformed into a trading hub.
Starting at the beginning of the 16th century the ideas
of the Reformation reached Linz and where happily welcomed.
By 1542, the first protestant major was elected and the Landhaus
was erected. In 1600 the Habsburgers initiated the Counter
Reformation. By 1700 the Linz's layout was formed and
remains to this day, with Baroque buildings and the
erecting of different monasteries. A wool fabrication plant
was built, giving work to up to 50.000 people, making Linz
Austria's main textile factory and a center of trade.
With industrialisation in the early 19th century
Linz grew more and more into a commercial city, which
made it a traget for above average air raids during World
War II. In 1966 Linz became a university city with
the construction of the Johannes Kepler University.
For decades Voest Alpine industries and Chemie Linz
have been major players in the city's economy. After severe
troubles both enterprises are sound once more and provide
jobs for a significant number of people. For a long time Linz
was considered to be an industrial city , with all the
negatives that go with it: dirty, smelly and devoid of cultural
activities. However, with internationally renowned institutions
like the Brucknerhaus and ARS Electronica Center and many
other activities Linz has managed to shed this image
and attracts a large number of tourists and guests. In 2003
a spectacular museum was built on the banks of the Danube.
Lentos is an impressive modern building and houses a good
collection of contemporary art featuring works by Kokoschka,
Schiele, Klimt,
Attersee or Hrdlicka.
Nowadays, Linz is the second largest city in Austria
and a very important location for industry. It is home to
approximately 200.000 people and host to the annual Bruckner
Festival and the Ars Electronica, a fair dedicated to technology
and contemporary electronic art.
German Language Schools
in Linz!
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