Description
Visit the Mariendom
Every Christmas the cathedral becomes home of Austria's biggest creche built by Sebastian Osterrieder and on various guided tours through the cathedral you will be able to explore otherwise inaccessible areas. For example on a guided tour at night, where you use flashlights only or on a glass window tour.
Historical Information
The Mariendom in Linz also known as the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and New Cathedral is the largest but not tallest cathedral in Austria. Legend has it that in Austro-Hungary no building was allowed to be taller than the South Tower of St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, therefore the tower of the Mariendom is two meters shorter than the one of St. Stephan's Cathedral.
Construction plans were started in 1855 by Bishop Franz-Josef Rudigier, the first stone was laid in 1862 and the benediction took finally place in 1924. However the church was only finished in 1935.
Mariendom was constructed by Vincent Satz a diocesan architect from Cologne in a neo-Gothic style. Furthermore the cathedral is equipped with nine bells and an organ from the danish organ builders Marcussen & Son with 70 stops and 5890 pipes. During Second World War at last a small room for the watchman was added to the tower and was most likely used as an observation post.
In 2009 when Linz became cultural capital the diocese opened the room for people who wanted to retreat for a week and enjoy pastoring.
How to get there
By public transport
Mariendom is located within the historic part of Linz. A 15 min walk from the train station. First take the street Kärntnerstraße, then turn left onto Volksgartenstraße and walk along the garden Volksgarten, afterwards turn right onto Herrenstraße.