Lienz

The capital of eastern Tyrol is a charming medieval town not to be confused with Linz on the River Danube. The area around Lienz was settled as early as the Bronze Age, around 2000 BC, and has had an extremely lively and sometimes tragic history. With around 12, 000 inhabitants, Lienz has a great deal to offer and is an extremely popular summer and winter holiday resort. Known as Austria’s “sunny city”, Lienz has the most hours of sunshine in the country, a factor that combined with the clean air and untouched natural surroundings may account for the above-average life expectancy of its inhabitants. The town has something for everyone: an all-year-round programme of events, art and culture, excellent restaurants and top shopping.

To the east of Lienz: the Roman city of Aguntum.

To the south of Lienz: the Galitzenklamm Gorge