Linz is the capital of Upper Austria, and sits on a 1,768 ft high hill on the left bank of the Danube. Our afternoon was filled with a sobering and informative visit to the Mauthausen Concentration Camp. This complex was one of the Nazi’s first large-scale concentration camps and was the last to be liberated. High profile Jewish prisoners and captive Russian soldiers were brought to the camp to work as free labor for the local stone quarry, harvesting and hauling granite blocks which were used to build the Camp. Simon Wiesenthal was a former prisoner here.
In the beautifully maintained graveyard in charming Dürnstein was a mass gravesite behind iron gates which had thousands of human bones and skulls from centuries ago which had been stacked up. Dürnstein was settled along the edge of the Wachau Valley. This small, quiet, charming town was visited by Princess Di and her beau, Dody Fiad and served as a respite away from the media when they stayed at the Hotel Dürnstein owned by Richard Gere. His hotel overlooks the Danube.
Glad to hear you’ve arrived safely and checked in. Have a wonderful trip!
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