linz, austria

   Originally known as Lentia in its days as a 1st-century Roman castle-settlement, Linz is today's provincial capital of Upper Austria. In this leading cultural center, you can sample the city's famous Linzer Torte, the jam-filled cake topped with almonds, in any number of cafes. In the heart of the Old Town, narrow lanes lead to the Hauptplatz, once the largest town square in Austria. Handsome patrician houses, the 17th-century Town Hall and an impressive cathedral line the open space. The steepest mountain railway in Europe delivers visitors to Postlingberg hill and its 18th-century pilgrimage church.