Linz History Facts and Timeline

(Linz, Upper Austria, Austria)

Evidence in history shows signs of a settlement in Linz as long ago as the 4th century BC, with settlers likely having been drawn by its setting alongside the River Danube, which ultimately connected the Adriatic Sea and provided a well-placed trading point linking various different routes.

Some time later, during the 1st century, it is known that the Roman army arrived and began to build extensive fortifications here, naming the area Lentia. Over the subsequent centuries, constant Goth attacks caused much destruction, with continued barbarian battles leaving just a small community within the Martinsfeld area by the 2nd century. Documents dating from the very end of the 8th century show that the town was then named as Linz and that St. Martin's Church had been built, along with a castle.

A Bridge over the Daunbe

During the 15th century, Linz was beginning to grow in size, gaining city magistrate rights in 1424 and court rights some three decades later. A mint was subsequently set up and in 1489, the city was called home by Holy Roman / Habsburg Emperor Frederick III. This emperor's presence elevated the city's status considerably and it briefly became the empire's most important, until Frederick's untimely death just four years later, when Vienna took over the mantle.


Many tradesmen and artists began to arrive in the city, and in 1497 a wooden bridge was built to span the River Danube, linking Linz with the neighbouring village of Urfahr and providing an invaluable crossing point. The bridge brought with it many visitors to the city and the local market traders enjoyed a prosperous time.

Expansion, Religion and Wars

As the population of Linz began to grow exponentially, it became apparent that the city's boundaries needed to be extended to accommodate its residents. Ambitious plans were soon drawn up and building work commenced, although this scheme was never actually completed. In the year of 1600, Emperor Rudolf II oversaw much reconstruction of the castle, while this was also the year of the counter-reformation, led by the Jesuits.

The Peasant Wars in 1626 were to take their toll on the city's fortunes and its suburbs were burnt to the ground, with Linz coming under the command of Bavaria from 1620 until 1628. The Thirty Years' War (1618 to 1648) saw further conflicts throughout Austria and Europe, with the country of Austria remaining in the hands of Habsburg royalty. The latter part of the 17th century witnessed the city of Linz regain its stature, with the 1670s welcoming the arrival of the Old Cathedral (St. Ignatius' Church), followed soon after by a wool factory, a Carmelite monastery and a hospice.

History of the 18th and 19th Centuries

Renowned Austrian architect Johann Michael Prunner was responsible for much of the building work carried out in the early part of the 18th century. The Main Square was graced with the Trinity Column, which was erected as a celebration of the city being spared from the recent plague that had caused so much death and misery elsewhere. A public library (bibliotheca publica) was founded in 1774, while in 1783, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart stayed in the city and famously composed his 'Linz Symphony'.

The boom period of Linz came to something of an abrupt halt at the turn of the 19th century, when a disastrous fire swept through the city, althought to have started in the castle. Just as it was beginning to recover from this devastation, French troops arrived and quickly occupied the city. In the year of 1805, infamous French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte chose to take up residence within the Landhaus. Further conflicts with the Napoleonic French continued over the next decade. Interestingly, in 1812, Ludwig van Beethoven came to Linz to visit his brother (a local pharmacist) and during his stay, completed his acclaimed 8th symphony.

The latter half of the 19th century was a more peaceful time in Linz, with the Empress Elisabeth railway line being completed in 1860, between Vienna (to the east) and Salzburg (to the west). The Bavarian railway was connected the following year and a period of extensive industrialization quickly followed. This included shipbuilding, the construction of steam locomotives and textile factories.

Hitler Heritage

The small town of Braunau am Inn, located just over 120 km / 75 miles to the west of Linz, witnessed one of the most influential moments in world history - the birth of one Adolf Hitler in 1889. The Hitler family relocated to the Linz area during the next decade and this future tyrannical dictator spent much of his childhood here, before moving to Vienna in 1907. Due to his fondness for Linz, Hitler envisaged it becoming the heart of his Third Reich movement and he moved many factories here from Czechoslovakia during the Second World War.

Post War Linz History and Development

After the war ended, the city began to pick up the pieces and regroup. The River Danube continued to serve as a boundary for the troops of America and Russia. Much reconstruction and building work was to follow, with the Linz Art School opening its doors in 1947, followed by the New Gallery of the City in 1948, and the Church of Peace in neighbouring Urfahr in 1951. The multi-purpose stadium named the Linzer was completed in 1952 on the Gugl Hill, with the city's botanical gardens also being established in this year.

In 1966, the Johannes Kepler University of Linz came into being and is today home to just under 14,000 students. More recent attractions include the events and congress centre named the Brucknerhaus in 1974, while 2003 saw the opening of the Intersport Arena Linz, the Lentos Museum for Modern Art, and the city park based between the Museumstrasse and the Huemerstrasse. The public transportation infrastructure was strengthened with new underground tramlines in 2004, the Arena Square was redesigned in 2006, and the Ars Electronica Center (AEC) was expanded from 2007 to 2009.