Some time ago, the city of Linz was called Linz on the Danube and all because the city and the river are inextricably linked both in the past and in the present.
For many centuries the Danube was the main transport artery along which the Romans, crusaders, ordinary merchants and crowned persons sailed. He contributed to the spread of the Christian faith and achievements both in the field of culture and in business activities carried by missionaries who also sailed along this river.
Now tens of thousands of tourists cruise along the Danube.
This was not always the case, at different time periods, the river not only connected cities and countries, but also separated them from each other. The Roman Empire tried to wall itself off from the barbarians who lived north of the Danube, then Marcus Aurelius built a stone rampart leading almost to the Black Sea. After World War II, Linz was divided into occupation zones along the Danube between the USSR and the USA.
The waters of the Danube carried away the past of the city, but it is remembered by churches, castles and bridges located on the banks of the river.
Our previous walk ended on the Main Square Linz - the capital of Upper Austria. The historic Main Square, and from it, along the small street Hofgasse, we head to the Linz castle (Linzer Schloss), located on the high bank of the Danube. Of course, it’s difficult to call it a castle, it’s rather a palace that arose on the site of the Celtic settlement of Lentos, then in 15 BC the Romans set up a fort here. It was the northern border of their empire.
In the Middle Ages, Emperor Frederick III, after unsuccessful wars with the King of Hungary Matthias Korvin, moved his residence to Linz, and then even proclaimed it the capital of the empire, but this status was lost three years after the death of the emperor. During his reign, he rebuilt it to his liking.
The next owner of the castle was King Rudolph II, who rebuilt it again according to the project of the Dutch architect, while significantly expanding it.
In subsequent centuries, he alternately served as a hospital, then a prison, or even barracks for the army. From the mid-20th century, a museum dedicated to the history of Linz and Upper Austria from the Neolithic era to the present day begins to work here. (Schlossmuseum Linz).
On its first floor there is an exposition dedicated to the prehistoric period and Ancient Rome. On the second floor there is an era covering the period from the Middle Ages to the Rococo era, including weapons of the time. On the third floor - folk art, crafts and interior reconstruction.
To date, the fortress wall, bastions and the gates of Frederick in the western part of the wall have been preserved. Over which the imperial coat of arms and the motto-anagram A.E.I.O. are carved, which means "Alles Erdreich ist Oesterreich untertan" - all lands are subject to Austria. There is a second variant of decoding this motto: "Austria Erit In Orbe Ultima" - Austria will exist forever.
There are still gates of Rudolph erected at this king. They are the main gate of Linz.
In one of the arches there are busts of the owners of the castle.
I did not visit the museum, the weather was changeable, it rained from time to time, so I preferred to inspect it from the outside, since it would take three hours to examine the exhibits.
At the entrance to the museum is a huge metal cast model of Linz. I always like that. Very well and clearly imagine the route.
There is a good observation deck which offers wonderful views of the city and the Danube.
The territory of the castle predisposes to walks - silence, green lawns, lush tree crowns and paths along the medieval walls. In summer, performances are held here in the open air.
Here are just out of the general color stand out modern annexes of the museum. But even they did not spoil the general mood from what they saw, in the Middle Ages I touched, felt it.
Raindrops again began to fall, the walk through the castle had to be stopped and down the narrow stairs to the city in order to continue acquaintance with Linz.
Returning along the Hovgasse to the square, we went to the Danube on the Nibelungenbrücke bridge. Since the city was built on both sides of the river, boatmen were engaged in transportation, which, of course, was not very convenient. Therefore, on the orders of Emperor Frederick III in the 15th century, the first bridge in the city was built, which later became one of the sights of the city.
In summer, it is decorated with flowers and it offers a stunning panorama of the river and its banks. I must say that the Danube has long been no longer blue, as the famous waltz claimed. But the Austrians still love him, and not only them. The music for the waltz was written by I. Ivanovich, a Serb of Romanian origin. And there are several text options.