Saturday, May 8, 2010

AUSTRIA - Linz : Pöstlingberg



AUSTRIA stamp




LINZ location in AUSTRIA



Linz is the third-largest city of Austria and capital of the state of Upper Austria (German : Oberösterreich). It is located in the north centre of Austria, approximately 30 km south of the Czech border, on both sides of the river Danube. The population of the city is 189 284 (2009), and that of the Greater Linz conurbation is 271 000.

Pöstlingberg is a district of Linz in the northernmost part of the city and one of the most important sights.
Pöstlingberg is situated on a hill with a height of 537 metres.
The religious history of the place started in 1716 when a man called Franz Obermayr put up a Pietà on the weather cross which was standing on the top of the hill. Already in 1720 pilgrims started to climb the hill and a wooden chapel was built. In 1742 the erection of the Pöstlingberg church started and opened 6 years later.
The Pöstlingberg became more and more popular as a holiday destination for the people in and around Linz. In 1747 the first restaurant was opened. It was the Kirchenwirt which still remains.
In 1809 French soldiers of Napoleon's army removed the forest from the top of the hill to have a perfect outlook over Linz and the area around. Before the French were able to cut down the trees on the Pöstlingberg, they had to beat the Austrian army which tried to attack the French from the top of the hill. In 1830 a fortress was built by the Austrian army and the rest of the forest was cut down. According to the experience of the battle against the French on that place, the Pöstlingberg became an important strategic place for the military.

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Postcard sent by Teresa , as "Just_For_Fun"
Postcrossing - Reference AT-54176

Linz - Pöstlingberg, 537 m

Danke

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