Linz — Hitler's Master Plan

Your journey begins on the Hauptplatz, Linz's central square since the 13th century. Remodeled in the 17th century, it is dominated by the Plague Column erected between 1713 and 1723 by Matthias Steinl. This 12,000 m² square, surrounded by baroque buildings like the Old Town Hall, has been the scene of historical gatherings, including during the Nazi era. Hitler considered Linz his hometown after living there as a child from 1898 to 1907, and this square was central to his visions for the city.

You then cross the Nibelungenbrücke, a bridge over the Danube built between 1867 and 1872 and renamed by Hitler in 1936. This 520-meter bridge, with its widened platforms at the ends intended for equestrian statues of Nibelungen heroes, was a key element of Nazi urban planning to transform Linz into an industrial and cultural hub. The panoramic view from the Ars Electronica Center towards the bridge recalls the scale of the projects envisioned for this city in Upper Austria.

The path leads you to Linzer Schloss, a castle built in 1287 by Frederick II of Babenberg, which was the residence of the Habsburgs until 1800. Located 800 meters from the Hauptplatz along the Danube, it now houses a regional museum. Hitler planned the transformation of Linz into the cultural capital of the Reich, and historical sites like this 10,000 m² castle with its 258 rooms were integrated into his ambitions to surpass Vienna.

Near the Hauptplatz, the Altes Rathaus, the Old Town Hall, built in 1320 and extended in the 16th century in late Gothic style, stands. This emblematic building in Linz's historic center, with its 50-meter facade and Renaissance towers, is close to the Realschule where Hitler studied from 1900 to 1905. The building, frequented by Hitler as a child, is a testament to the city's history before the dictator's rise to power.

Your journey concludes near the Minoritenkirche, a Gothic church built between 1285 and 1310, with an 80-meter bell tower. Located immediately next to the Landestheater, this church was frequented by the Hitler family during their stay in Linz from 1898 to 1907. It contains a Gothic crucifix from 1430 and 15th-century frescoes, offering a contrast to the dictator's modern ambitions. This route will have allowed you to grasp how Linz's historical heritage was instrumentalized by a man obsessed with his childhood city, leaving a complex legacy for tourism in Upper Austria.