LINZ
Parts of the present city districts of Linz have been continuously settled since 400 BC. In the first century BC the city was a fortress situated on northern bordering rampart of the Roman Empire and was called “Lentia“. In 1490 it became the provincial capital of Upper Austria.
Today the city has a population of 183,504 and is the third biggest city in Austria. More than 68% of the 96-m2 area of the city is covered in vegetation, forest or water.
Linz is a university city with approx. 16,000 students. Besides the Johannes Kepler University, there is also the Academy of Industrial and Art Design, the Catholic Theological University (seminary) and the Anton Bruckner School of Music, Drama and Dance. Vocational university courses in the social field are also offered.
The city is one of the most important economic centres in Austria. More than 6300 businesses provide 190,000 jobs. Most of the businesses are small and medium enterprises.
Linz has not only become famous on an international level with its “Linz Gateau” but also for its modern cultural events. The Prix Ars Electronia Festival is held here annually, which is a world-renowned competition of electronic art. Lovers of classical music highly rate the Bruckner Festival including both the “Sound Clouds” in Linz’s Danube Park. Two other cultural institutions are museum at the Ars Electronica Centre and the “Lentos” Art Museum, which opened in 2003.
In the last two decades Linz has managed to transform itself from a purely industrial city to an attractive and social centre. This can be seen not only in the contentment of Linz’s male and female population, but also in the continuously growing tourism. For more information visit www.linz.at
Lorient: Dynamism on the southern coast of Brittany
Lorient is a town enjoying all the privileges of a regional capital that is also a town unspoiled by its darker aspects. This young town leaves nobody indifferent to whoever decides in its favour. After the painstaking reconstruction and revival in the post-war period, the town managed to make use of all its merits becoming a certain model for the quality of life in it as well as being able to function like a big city as such. This town with its five ports combines the responsibility of a regional capital in the name of the delights concealed in a conurbation of human dimension. Lorient knows none of the gloom of the big cities possessing only good quality functions: functions that are public, commercial, industrial and cultural; those that make a town leave behind a mark of our civilisation. It has preserved the character and accessibility of small towns that go well hand in hand with the local maritime front. Like the big cities, it maintains an import network of contacts and a full system of education; an industrial infrastructure and transport system. Lorient knows how to win over all visitors by its special sense for candidness. The ten-day Celtic Festival, that takes place here annually, is proof of the unique ability of being able to organise and welcome. The construction site of the navy of Louis the Great was transformed into a modern industrial town where the vicinity of the sea makes life pleasant.
Town centre
The architecture of the centre of Lorient is the architecture of a town reconstructed with moderation. The buildings of modest size represent a certain architectural difference that interrupts the monotony of some hasty reconstructions of the post-war period. The intention was to build brightly and spaciously while the lack of historical legacies so lamented by certain people, suddenly, for its critical and open spirit changes to advantage: the town is practical, transport and parking easy (in France this is the last town of its size that has not resorted to paid parking); the availability of all kinds of services mingles with the touch of the sea and the ports right to the very heart of the commerce of Lorient.
Coast: unique living space
Heliotropism, the main tend of contemporary society, is what makes the Atlantic coast one of the biggest attractions in the young port of Ponant. The town is marvellously situated on the coastline thereby meeting the expectations of new residents. In Lorient, which knows no holiday, there is always a place for leisure at the end of the bus routes leading to the sea spas or shore just before the ports. The inland peaceful beauty of Brittany right to the sandy shores, from the islets of Ponant to the forests.
Cycling paths
The town, which makes a point of organising and securing safe exercise and sports activities, launched an active policy to benefit cyclists and general safety. The aim is to make such alterations that will result in more peaceful and smoother running traffic. Priority has been given to main avenues where more than 60 km of cycling paths has been built.
Green areas
The sea is the blue lungs of Lorient. The green lungs are about a fifth of the total area of the town. More than sixty species of trees have been planted on thirty-five sports areas. They add beauty to the nursery schools, parks, the banks of the Scorff River and Ter Lake. This lake, whose surroundings have been completely reconstructed include new sports areas, and are the meeting place for Sunday joggers.
From the India Company in search of the cultural heritage of the 20th century
Lorient also has an extensive 20th century architectural heritage, as only an observant eye can detect. The town guidebook allows a glimpse into several pages of Lorient history. It gives an idea of how enormous the task was of master builders to reconstruct the town. They managed to restore its true urban character and therefore Lorient became a real architectural and urban laboratory of the 20th century. The town opens up to whoever goes on a stroll through its wide and bright streets displaying its mixture of houses dating back to the period of the India Company, post-war art deco buildings, 1950s buildings and houses of the already modern style so typical of the local region.
Enclosed area of the port
The reduction in the size of the military area provided public access to the historical architectural territory that escaped the bombing in the winter of 1942. The enclosed port area has become the central place encompassing an entire set of valuable buildings. The dominant feature is the “l’Hôtel des ventes” building of the India Company built under the supervision of the famous architect Jacques-Ange Gabriela. This used to be the administrative building for the Admiralty until 2000. It is on this site, which dominates the entire port, that you can also find a look-out tower shaped like a lighthouse and used in the period of the establishment of Groix and during the threat of the English invasion. Two old mills stand in close vicinity to the tower, which fed the bakeries that served the army and as true rural gems, are a constant reminder of the presence of the town. A view of the open sea appears to the eye of anybody on a stroll through the colonnade stretching round the entire complex.
Anchorage
The anchorage of Lorient means a unique geographical position for Ponant. It is due to this specific quality that it was decided to locate the construction site to serve the needs of the India Company in 1666. Today this covered area enables the development of all maritime activities. It is above all due to the anchorage and local structure of the areas that Lorient became a town with five ports and was picked from the entire region as the location for the European water sports centre.
Contact: Marc Farré • Communication Department Director – Town of Lorient • Tel. 02 97 02 22 20 – Fax: 02 97 02 21 42 – Mail : marre at mairie-lorient dot fr Website: www.lorient.com
Nitra
(87 603 inhabitants, 138-588 m. above sea level)
Nitra lies in the north – eastern part of the Podunajská lowland, at the foot of the Tribeč mountain range. Zobor hill (588 m) towers over the town and together with Hradná Skala (the Castle rock), Vŕšok, Kalvária (Calvary), Borina, Čermáň and Martinský vrch, enjoys a unique panorama overlooking the town. The natural scenery is complemented by the river Nitra, which runs in a wide bow around the castle hill.
Nitra is a modern town and is currently the seat of district and regional state institutions. Nitra is also an important economic centre with a prosperous chemical industry and traditionally well developed agriculture and food-processing industries. The town boats the largest exhibition complex in Slovakia – the Agrokomplex exhibition centre annualy hosts a range of international contract exhibitions. The Slovak Agricultural University, the University of Constantine Philosopher, several libraries, Grammar Schools and Secondary Schools and presigious scientific institutions, for example the Research Institution for Animal Production or the Archaeological Institution of the Slovak Science Academy are also situated here. Nitra has many institutions that cater for the arts such as the Ponitrianske múzeum (Museum), the Slovak Agricultural Museum, the Missionary Museum, the Nitrianska geléria (Gallery), the Old Theatre and the Theatre of Andrej Bagar. There are many cultural events, theatrical and music festivals held in the town, which attract wide interest and tourism.
MESTSKÝ ÚRAD NITRA Štefánikova 60, 950 06 Nitra Tel.: ++421 37/6502111 Fax:++421 37/6517329 e-mail: msunitra at msunitra dot sk www.msunitra.sk SLOVENSKO
Passau – a young old-world city
on the Danube, Inn and Ilz Rivers
The city of Passau lives its more than two thousand year-old rich history and its existing present. The city of three rivers offers many forms of enjoyment for everybody. Passau is characterized by its advantageous geo-political position in a triangle of three lands between Bavaria, Austria and Bohemia, the beautiful aspect of the city, with its notable historical centre and atmosphere of south European municipalities, a high quality and extraordinarily diverse cultural scene, a modern economic centre open to new investment, an internationally acclaimed university and, last but not least, human sincerity.
Passau is part of the administration of Lower Bavaria and is a city situated in the southeastern most part of this region. It spreads across the southern slopes of the Bavarian Forest and on three rivers – the Danube, Inn and Ilz – and thereby offers a uniquely extraordinary beautiful territorial location. The territory of the city covers a total of 69.72 square kilometres 300 metres above sea level. The city’s sixty-kilometre border takes up one-fifth of the border with Austria. Passau is about 50 kilometres away from the Czech Republic.
In the last three decades the city developed into an administrative, economic and cultural centre in eastern Lower Bavaria and has been the capital of this region since 1993. A significant step in this direction was the successful establishment of the university in Passau in 1978. The University – currently with more than 7500 students – shapes the cultural and economic character of the city.
Passau has a more than 2000 year-old history. This is also the reason why tourism is so important in the city of Passau. Over 1.4 million tourists visit Passau every year, while annually over 393,000 tourists spend one day and stay overnight, which is very important for tourism and the attractiveness of the city. Every 25th job (= 4% of all jobs) depends directly or indirectly on tourism.
Since time immemorial life in Passau had grown up around water and ship navigation. Of the three rivers it is only the Danube that plays a decisive role in inland water transport. The local ship transport company offers not only a sightseeing tour of the “three rivers” but also several hour boat trips along the Bavarian and Austrian Danube River basin. Fascinating dreamlike steamer routes will take passengers to the towns, cities and lands on the Danube through Vienna and Budapest right down to the Black Sea.
It is thanks to its European efforts and due to its annual “European Weeks” festival, held locally for more than 50 years now that Passau was awarded the honorary flag of the Council of Europe in 1970, which ten years later was followed by the European award thanks to which Passau can be called a European city. In opening up to the world, Passau, the city of three rivers, can be therefore characterised as setting up links with a total of nine partner cities worldwide. The city of Passau is in partnership with the following municipalities: Akita / Japan, České Budějovice / Czech Republic, Cagnes-sur-Mer / France, Hackensack / USA, Krems / Austria, Liu-chou / China, Malaga / Spain, Montecchino Maggiore / Italy and Veszprém / Hungary.
The partnership of the city of Passau and České Budějovice was officially established in November 1993 by mayor Willi Schmöller and his counterpart Jaromír Talíř. Since then intensive cultural, church and other contacts have been cultivated such as partnership of schools, exchange of youth, cooperation between the universities and sports clubs.
There are good living conditions in Passau and good quality housing, rents are favourable, land and construction parcel prices are accessible and young families are welcome. Sports enthusiasts can find a broad range of various sports in Passau. Passau is particularly a ready-made paradise and an excellent tip for cyclists. The atmosphere of Passau is created by ship navigation. You can experience the magic of the city on water. More than 900 shops, malls and the pedestrian zone offer good shopping facilities and guarantee pleasant and successfully shopping. Passau is well known for its hospitality.
Passau has excellent preconditions for business activities on the labour market and in its infrastructure because it has built up favourable conditions for investment. Care for investors in Passau’s economic region is ensured by a complete consultancy service and supports the realisation of investments made in all areas. By completing the construction of an exhibition area for trade fairs and fairs, the conference centre in Kohlbruck and the construction of the Hall of Three Lands, Passau has underlined its importance as a trade fair and conference centre. The Trade Fair of Three Lands will stage its premiere from 20 to 28 March at the just completed exhibition grounds in Passau, which, with its multi-purpose hall (“Hall of Three Lands”) and extensive exhibition space, ranks among the most modern buildings of this type in Bavaria. The Hall of Three Lands opens up new possibilities in the “triangle” of the three lands of Bavaria – Bohemia – Austria. Therefore the cultural and economic diversity of the region of three lands adds an unusual character to the trade fair surpassing the borders of the lands. This results in a quantitative and qualitative link and dissemination of information about the regions of Upper Austria and South Bohemia. Czech exhibitors, in particular, will be linked to Czech towns represented in a new hitherto unknown content.
Weitere Informationen über die Stadt Passau im Internet: www.passau.de Tourismus-Informationen: www.passau.de/tourist Veranstaltungskalender der Stadt Passau: www.kalender.passau.de Die Wirtschaftsregion Passau im Internet: www.gopassau.de
Suhl and its local districts
When you picture a map of Germany, close your eyes and stick your finger into its centre, then you almost always hit the city of Suhl.
The regional free city of Suhl (population of 44,000) lies in the valley of the Steina, Lauter and Hasel Rivers at the southwest hillside of the Thüringer Forest in immediate vicinity to Rennsteig, probably the nicest tourist trail in Germany. While the central square lies at an altitude of 430 metres, the mountains surrounding the city tower steeply above its centre. Suhl’s “home mountain”, Domberg, measures 675 metres while Döllberg in the southeast reaches a height of 760 metres and Ringberg in the northeast 745 metres. The municipal area spreads above the local district of Goldlauter-Heidersbach rising to the central massif of the Thüringer Forest to a height of almost 1000 metres and is an ideal starting point for hikers, discoverers and all those in search of pleasant enjoyment and leisure, as well as for winter sports enthusiasts. A visitor to the city centre will find buildings of historical value. The dominant feature of the city, the Suhl Armourer, on the central square, is a witness to a centuries’ old tradition of the manufacture of hunting and sports weapons.
Popular objects of photography are the Ensemble Merkur Hotel, the Suhl Congress Centre and the Lord’s Lake in the very centre of the city.
Suhl can boast a rich history. According to Suhl research scholar Ernst Fischer, findings in the soil provide evidence of people inhabiting the area in about 2000 BC. Evidence also points to the fact that came to people permanently settle in the area of the city of Suhl in about 500 BC with the arrival of Celtic tribes. They were mostly engaged in extracting and processing ores. So together with salt mining, ore mining and iron processing belong to the oldest economic branches of Suhl.
The city itself was first recorded in writing in 1318. It gained the status of a town in 1527. Suhl is the economic and administrative-technical centre of the region of South Thuringia.
The varied facades dating back to different centuries are a characteristic feature of the traditional Suhl shopping street – Steinweg.
Suhl’s local districts – there are eight altogether – are all suitable for recreation and holidays. Wichthausen, Dietzhausen, Mäbendorf and Heinrichs lie in the valley of the Hasel River, which is lined on the left and right side by gently sloping, densely afforested foothills of brightly coloured sandstone: the Schneeberg mountain ridge and the mountain range, both named after the biggest elevations. There are traces of human habitation dating back 3,000 years: mounds, old mounds, old bulwarks and sunken roads. Suhl-Neundorf, recorded in writing as early as 1318 as “Nuwendorff by Sule” lies on the upper course of the Hasel River.
Particularly idyllic are undoubtedly local districts immediately at the foot of the Thüringer Forest: Albrechts, Goldlauter-Heidersbach and Vesser. The two latter ones hold the title “nationally recognised recreational site”. As a consequence, here you will find clearly appropriate conditions and offers for spending your holiday: the extensive, well marked tourist trails, in winter marked skiing routes, excursion restaurants, tourist chalets, theme tourist trails (nature trails, mining tourist trails) and especially for active visitors a practice skiing course (Vesser), cyclist paths and alpine skiing slopes. The funicular in Vesser is highly convenient for beginners of alpine skiing, while the downhill slope at Goldlauterer Salzburg provides enjoyment on its kilometre-long course for the more experienced skiers. It is not for nothing that Salzburg is described as the “blackest” downhill course north of the Alps.
www.suhl-thueringen.de