The Capital of Culture year will feature events ranging from literary festivals to audio/visual extravaganzas; scientific symposiums to soccer tournaments.
A city located on the banks of the Danube, Linz is already famed for its cultural heritage. Mozart famously created his Symphony No36 to be performed in the city, and this is now known simply as the Linz Symphony. There is a great deal of investment in the arts in this area, with a number of museums, galleries and performance centres to visit.
Sporting Events in Linz
Sports fans might like to pay a visit to the city between May 30 and June 1, 2009, when the Linzer Stadium plays host to the Youth Soccer Cup 2009 (YES09). Admission to this event is free, with eleven youth teams selected from the former and future Capital of Culture cities vying for the YES Cup.
Musical Highlights in Linz
Music lovers, however, may enjoy the sounds of A Dozen of Europe, a monthly feature at the Posthof venue. Each month, one of the newer member states of Europe will delight with their musical talents. The dates for these events are as follows:
16 January – Slovakia
28 February – Estonia
13 March – Hungary
4 April – Cyprus
8 May – Latvia
13 June – Slovenia
10 July – Lithuania
29 August – Malta
25 September – Bulgaria
31 October – Czech Republic
14 November – Poland
12 December – Romania
Anyone who enjoys music and likes to explore different styles will surely relish the opportunity to immerse themselves in such a wide variety of sounds.
Those seeking academic, rather than aural, stimulation should visit the Kepler Salon, former home of Mathematician and astronomer Johannes Kepler. The Salon will be the site of regular scientific discussions on an extensive range of topics. The causes of the current financial crisis, how music can heal and the workings of heart valves will all be subject to examination and all of these dialogues are sure to be very well attended.
Information about Linz
As well as its cultural attractions, Linz is also famous for its Linzer Torte, which is a cake reputed to be made using the world’s oldest recipe. First made in Linz around 350 years ago, you can pick up one of these delicious cakes for as little as €0.63 right up to €22.
The currency of Austria is the Euro (€). €1 is roughly equivalent to £1.11(GBP), $0.75(USD), $0.61(CAD) and $0.50(AUD).
The nearest airport to Linz is the Blue Danube International Airport, which is serviced by several airlines, including budget airline Ryanair. There are good public transport links by way of both bus and train from the airport to the city. Accommodation within the city is available to suit every budget, from five star hotels and inns through to hostels and youth guest houses.
These are just a few of the events already lined up, with more being added to the calendar all the time. A visit to Linz during 2009 is guaranteed to be a pleasure, whatever your cultural interests.
For more information on forthcoming Capital of Culture events in Linz, Austria, sign up for email updates here.
Sarah V Reid - Born and bred in the North West of England, Sarah has travelled extensively throughout the United Kingdom, Europe and the United ...
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