European Capital of Culture 2009

In 2009, Linz is the European Capital of Culture and a host within Europe.

 

Linz, welcome

No other Austrian city has changed as dramatically as Linz has in recent decades. What's emerged is a modern urban centre with a flourishing economy, a city where the quality of life is exceptional. In 2009, a trip to Linz will be especially rewarding because the city on the Danube serves as European Capital of Culture and shows off what makes this such a special place.

Linz, Austria

The capital of the Province of Upper Austria is situated astride the Danube. With a population of 190,000, Linz is Austria's third largest city and links the Mühlviertel region that stretches north to the Czech border with the rolling hills that extend to the Austrian Alps in the south. The Linz Metropolitan Area is the hub of a thriving regional economy; the number of jobs in Linz exceeds the city's population. Here, technology, industry and high ecological standards are no contradiction: Linz is one of Austria's most environmentally-friendly communities with green spaces making up 60% of the city. Linking up industry, culture and nature will play an essential role in the Linz09 programme  (new window).

Linz, culture

Cultural life in Linz is highly diverse, ranging from interactive art at the Ars Electronica Center  (new window) to 19th- and 20th century fine arts in the Lentos Museum of Modern Art  (new window), music in the Brucknerhaus  (new window) (german), home of the world-famous Bruckner Orchestra, drama in the Landestheater  (new window) (german), contemporary art in the OK Offenes Kulturhaus Oberösterreich  (new window) and exhibitions in the Oberösterreichische Landesmuseum  (new window). Big events dot the cultural calender in Linz. One of the summer highlights is the Pflasterspektakel  (new window) that turns the entire city centre into a stage for street art. An annual fixture in early September is Ars Electronica  (new window), the world's most important media art festival. It's directly followed by the Brucknerfest  (new window) (german) and the Klangwolken  (new window) (german) in riverside Donaupark. Here, culture also means history: astronomer Johannes Kepler, composer Anton Bruckner and poet Adalbert Stifter lived in Linz, and Mozart's Linzer Symphony has immortalised the name of the town in which it was composed.