Innsbruck is the capital city of the province of Tyrol in south-western
Austria , located on the Inn River in the eastern Alps. It is
probably known most as a winter sports destination, but It is
also an important commercial centre and for the manufacturing
of items including shoes, musical instruments and textiles. In
1420 Innsbruck replaced Merano as the capital city of Tyrol .
Innsbruck has much charm, being set in a valley with the high
Tyrolean alpine peaks above it.
Travel Insurance for Innsbruck:
Area: Europe **
Know Before You Go:
FCO Country Advice for Austria
Innsbruck has lots of history and culture, with the Old Town
being a major attraction. The Hapsburg kings held court in Innsbruck
. Among local attractions are the Hofkirche, a Franciscan church
which was built in the mid 15 th century, Ambras Castle which
has a good art collection, and several interesting museums.
The Olympic Games were held in Innsbruck in 1964 and 1976 and
it is partly due to those events and the infrastructure that
came with them that the area is today such a popular and well
organised winter sports destination.
Innsbruck is known throughout the world as a winter resort,
but is also popular as a summer destination. There are six major
ski areas, all within a one-hour drive of the city. The town
is also conveniently located just a few miles from the airport.
Innsbruck is known as one of Europe ’s oldest skiing areas,
and provides plenty of terrain for beginner and intermediate
skiers. There are also enough challenging runs to keep advanced
skiers happy too.
As with any popular sports destination, the area offers excellent
opportunities for shopping as well as a wide choice of restaurants,
bars and nightlife.
One of the most popular attractions in the Old Town area, with
its Gothic and Baroque architecture, is the Golden Roof. Set
amongst the surrounding medieval houses, the golden Roof was
built as a residence for Tyrolean rulers, constructed initially
for Emperor Maximilian I. He used it as a place to view tournaments
in the square below. The Gold Roof is actually a three-storey
balcony which has been capped with gold-plated copper tiles.
Another attraction is the Imperial Palace. It was built in
Gothic style by Archduke Siegmund the Rich in the mid 14th century.
The palace is adorned with many paintings of the Hapsburgs and
tours of the Palace are available
Ambras Castle was built in the 1600s by Archduke Ferdinand
II. The castle is set in a medieval fortress and contains a lower
and upper castle. Tours are available and the lower castle is
a museum for various collections of art and artefacts.
The Imperial Church (also known as Hofkirche) took over eighty
years to complete and has a memorial for Emperor Maximilian I.
It contains works from many famous artists. The Church also has
a very famous organ from the Renaissance period.
High above Innsbruck is the amazing new 47 metres high Bergisel
Ski Jump which was completed in 2002. The original ski jump was
used during the Olympic Games. The stadium, gondola, elevator
and café have fantastic views of the surrounding area
and are open to visitors. |
