Grottenbahn am Pöstlingberg, Dragon-themed railway ride in Pöstlingberg, Austria
The Grottenbahn am Pöstlingberg is a railway that runs through a fortress tower, passing illuminated alcoves displaying scenes from dwarf kingdoms and fairy tale landscapes. The dragon-shaped train itself travels on a narrow gauge track through the underground chambers of the fort.
The railway opened in 1906 after the Pöstlingberg fortress was acquired in 1897 by the Linz-Urfahr Tramway Company. This conversion of the old fort into a visitor attraction was an early example of turning historical sites into leisure destinations.
The train passes by a handcrafted miniature city showing Linz's appearance around 1900, with detailed buildings and squares at a 1:7 scale. This replica gives a sense of how the city looked back then and feels like a tiny time capsule carved into the stone.
The route runs through the old fortress, so expect uneven ground and narrow passages. The best time to visit is during the warmer months, as the underground chambers can be quite cold in winter.
The train is named Lenzibald and runs on an unusually narrow 1-meter gauge track. This special track width allows the vehicle to navigate tight curves through the fortress rooms, giving the ride an intimate and playful feel.
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