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Pöstlingberg

· Reading Time 4 mins
Mühlviertel City River
Table of Contents
Tour Details
  • Distance
    8.7 km
  • Ascent
    275 m
  • Adventure
Karte
City Trail Linz - This article is part of a series.
Stage 2: This Article

Once again, I start at the main square, just like on the first city walk. Instead of heading west, however, this route takes me north to Urfahr on the opposite bank of the Danube.

Nibelungen Bridge

This Danube bridge has a long historical continuity that can be traced back to the late Middle Ages, when the city of Linz was granted the privilege of building a wooden bridge. The crossing allowed the city to flourish and gain regional importance.

Bridges over the Danube were rare even in modern times. In the whole of Upper Austria, there was only one between Linz and Urfahr. The next bridge downstream was at Mautern in Lower Austria.

The town’s location on the Salzsteig was certainly a decisive factor in the construction of the bridge. The Salzsteig was an important trade route, primarily used to transport salt from the salt-rich Salzkammergut region to Bohemia. In turn, Bohemian products such as glass and cloth were transported to the south.

Urfahr

Now enough about the history of the city of Linz and its bridge. Having arrived in Urfahr, I descend from the bridge to the Danube. I now walk a good distance upstream along the Danube. Numerous cyclists and walkers cross my path. Today is Whit Monday, a public holiday in Austria. It is also a beautiful, warm, sunny morning. No wonder the Danube riverside is so busy today.

Linz Castle with the Danube in the foreground.

On the opposite side of the Danube, the broad box of Linz Castle watches over the historic city centre. I soon leave the flat land and turn towards the Pöstlingberg, its base reaches down to the Danube. The path is well signposted here. Large, magenta-coloured signs point to the city hiking trail 2.

Pöstlingberg railway

The following path leads me along the Pöstlingberg railway up to the Pöstlingberg. Construction of the railway began in 1897 in order to create a comfortable ascent for the many churchgoers who attend mass at the Pöstlingberg church and for day trippers seeking to escape the busy city. Another goal was to promote the advantages of electricity. With a gradient of up to 11.5 %, the railway is one of the steepest adhesion railways1 in the world.

Pöstlingberg railway. Bruckner University stop.

Originally, the railway was designed exclusively for summer service. The tram carriages had an open, airy design. This only changed when the railway was extended to the main square in 2009 and ultimately connected to the Linz tram network. Tram line 50 has been running on this route ever since.

Alternatively, if you don’t want to take the steep path, you can use the railway up to the Pöstlingberg. Fortunately, the ascent is not too difficult as the path is asphalted throughout.

Pöstlingberg

I soon arrive at the top of the hill. High fortification walls surround the large Pöstlingberg church. The fortification ring around Linz is unique in Austria. After the Napoleonic Wars, in which the city of Linz was conquered by French troops, the Austrian army realised how inadequate the city’s fortification was.

A new, modern fortification system was therefore planned. 32 cannon towers and a large fort on the Pöstlingberg were to form a fortification ring around the city. Most of the towers still stand today, but they were never used for their original purpose, defence. Weapons technology changed too quickly and the towers were already outdated just 20 years after they were built. In addition, Linz grew rapidly in the 19th century and the city soon swallowed up the towers.

When the Pöstlingberg railway was built, one of the towers was converted into a railway station, while a viewing terrace was set up on another, from where you can enjoy a fantastic view over Linz.

The Pöstlingberg Church, built in the 18th century, stands in the centre of the fort. It towers above the towers and can be recognised from afar as the landmark of Linz.

Return to the city

From the Pöstlingberg, I descend into the city via the Way of the Cross, the most common pilgrimage route. I turn right at a large building, the Petrinum, which reminds me of an army barrack. The Petrinum was built at the end of the 19th century as a seminary for boys who desired to become priests. Though it was probably more their parents desire. The educational tradition lives on as a private highschool. Nowadays, the school is also open to girls and the pursuit of a clerical career is no longer compulsory.

Via the main road through Urfahr and the Nibelungen Bridge, I return to the starting point of my day’s hike. For a city walk, the fantastic views on this loop are impressive. After all, you reach 539 metres on the Pöstlingberg, 200 metres above Linz’s main square. The tour is definitely worthwhile if you live in Linz or are visiting for a short time.


  1. An adhesion railway overcomes a gradient solely through the friction between the driving wheel and the rails. ↩︎

Lambert Widdersinn
Author
Lambert Widdersinn
Enthusiastic hiking ram

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