Lienz is a small Austrian town; small, but charming.
And don’t be fooled by the cold buildings of the more modern part of town; instead, peer carefully between the buildings and search, among the many narrow streets, for the one that will lead you to the heart of the city. And if you’ve chosen the right road, a curious sculpture of a man sitting on a bench will appear, pointing with his finger in the exact direction you should follow.
What to see in Lienz?
The first stop is the city’s main square, Hauptplatz, where the dominant building is Liebburg Castle, a 17th-century building now home to the town hall. Its towers are adorned with characteristic onion domes. The square is famous for its floral decorations; from June to September, tall palm trees are planted—Lienz is a very hot city in summer—and, with the arrival of winter, they are then returned to the greenhouse.
From the main square, you can venture into the small historic center. Strolling through Lienz is charming, as the central streets, lined with colorful houses, are lined with cafes, restaurants, and shops displaying numerous brass signs, typical of the area and once manufactured here.
If you’d like to take a break, we recommend a slice of the city’s signature dessert, Lienzer Lebzelt cake. It’s an elaborate version of gingerbread enriched with honey, blueberries, hazelnuts, and spices. Its recipe, dating back to the 17th century, involves twenty different steps. And with your cake, why not enjoy a glass of Pregler? It’s the original high-proof spirit of this region, a true specialty made only from apples, pears, and plums.
At this point, you can head to Bruck Castle, perhaps Lienz’s most famous monument, the medieval residence of the Counts of Gorizia before the city fell under Habsburg rule. The castle hosts exhibitions and concerts, and its tower offers spectacular views.
A suggestion for lunch? Here are three typical Austrian specialties: you can start with a classic soup and then choose between Wiener Schnitzel, the famous Viennese cutlet, invariably accompanied by fries and blueberry jam, and Goulash, the famous meat stew that still today bears witness to the Hungarian influence on the Habsburg Empire.
Finally, don’t forget that Lienz is the end point of one of the most beloved and famous cycle routes in the Dolomites: the San Candido-Lienz cycle route. It’s an easy, slightly downhill route that runs along the Drava River for about forty kilometers, winding through one of the most spectacular stretches of the Puster Valley.
Now, all that’s left to do is see you in June, when, from the 10th to the 14th, we’ll be listening to the sounds of the 2026 Festival together!
