A Day in Linz , Austria
We arrived last night, and after the entertainment Jeanette and Ken went to our suite well satisfied. The transfer had worked well, the departure of Viking Vilhjalm from Passau, following the walk through the town and then a super lunch was all we expected but everything worked well. The Longship is very comfortable and reflects all we enjoy with Viking river Cruises.
We chose not to do the excursion to Cesky Krumlov, because it was a relatively short time walking this UNESCO town after a quite long drive in the motor coach. The 2 coaches are with us for the next several days for excursions locally as well as longer excursions.
Following breakfast in the lounge where we sit at a table for 8 people, it is time to brush our teeth, then exit the Vessel ( with our hearing equipment),for the short walk into the township of Linz for what turned out to be a most enjoyable 2 hour walking tour with a fantastic guide. There is a shorter leisurely opton with a different guide but we chose the 2 hour plus walking tour through the town with a stop at the Cathedral , the guide explained at length the history, the battles that occurred in the middle ages as the wealthy aristocracy fought for control of the waterway and the higher grounds above the Town, .as a means of controlling the river trade, seeking to create tax revenue and also exert military influence. Similarly, the role of the Catholic Churches and their monasteries, as training centres, for preserving and influencing control over town life represents an important historical fact.
The photos depict the wonderful historical buildings and the stunning architecture. It is a relatively easy walk. some choose to stop for a coffee and some biscuits or cakes
So to provide further detail I will include information from our daily update and an interesting starting point ios the information on Austrian Heurigen, which in English means “old world charm and new wine.” They are like English puns or restaurants serving Austrian food and a selection of new wines from the local area and in each there is usually a different form of musical entertainment. A heurigen is a seasonal tavern that serves wines from the local area and is supposed to mean local and current year’s vintage. As suggested earlier you step in side a Heurigen and you likely to hear a band playing “Schrammelmusik”- traditional folk songs played on the accorian and guitar. Traditional heurigen will provide varied sausages, fried chicken , pickled onions, and other vegetables, cold cuts and cheeses, strudel and of course weinbeisser ginger cookies abd thick slices of bread and rolls just waiting to be smeared with “liptauer” a spicy cheese spread. We tried and enjoyed all of this !!
But I need to include that all good heurigen ( including that which we visited) are sure to offer plenty of “gemutlichkeit” - that quintessentially German feeling of homey warmth and charm and the alcohol assists.
Linz Castle.
We visited the castle which probably dates from the times of Charlamagne, but the whole building is inextricably tied to Emperor Frederick 111, who rebuilt during his reign as a suitable residential palace. Whilst Frederick lived in the castle he elevated the status of Linz in Austria to the ceentre of the Habsburg Empire, but that didn’t last.
Today visitors and the multiude of tourists are not seeing the Palace as Frederick did. people are actually touring a redesigned expansion undertaken by Rudolf the 11 in the 17th Century . The Castle also served as a military hospital during Napoleon times . After a long and slow restoration from 1953 the Castle now houses the Upper Austrian provincial museum.
A mist enjoyablemorning visit with an entertaining guide..
The name and history of Linz offers more. Originally known as Lentia n its days as a 1st century Roman Camp- Settlement , Linz is today’s provincial capital of Upper Austria. You can, and we did, sample the famous Linzer Torte, the jam filled cake topped with almonds, in any of the cafes in the heart of the old town, narrow lanes lead to the Hauptplatz, one of the largest town squares in all of Austria . Handsome patrician houses, and an impressive Cathedral line the open space.
A really enjoyable morning of excursion and history..
We relaxed and enjoyed the ship in the afternoon before joining Viking Explorer Cocktail part for all prior Viking travellers. It was ropughly 50% of the guests and some are regualr river cruisers. This was a cocktail party and update of viking . No sales pressure just a thank you for returning.
It was followed by a n interesting discussion from the tour Director, Violeta as to Viking river and ocean cruisers. We were really interested given our penchant to use Viking again in 2026 . They are a large river cruise company offering similar ships and a variety of cruises, covering many rivers in Europe, South East Asia , Portugal and recently the Great Lakes in USA. We like the product and the staff.
Dinner was just sensational with local fresh food and exquisite desserts. Wine was good quality from the Wachau Valley.
Then following dinner (at 9.00pm) we were greeted with several local Linz opera artists in particular a soprano and a tenor as well as a couple of musicians who performed a Concert with their own arrangements of classics. Simply very special. They were excellent, we didn;t want them to finish and the palyed on and on.
Then followed Erik playing a variety of music on the piano to conclude the evening at about 11.00pm. The the singers departed at 11.10pm and the ship departed Linz at 11.45pm for the short cruise from Linz to Krems.
A most enjoyable and satisfying day.
