Cities of Austria: Innsbruck

The main city of Tyrol – Innsbruck (Innsbruck) – lies with the southern slopes of the Nordkette Ridge (up to 2454 m) at the confluence of the Inn and Zille rivers. Starting from Celtic times, people lived here, but in itself the city became known since the XIII century, when Duke Leopold III began to finish the court on the spot where Hofburg is now located. His grandson Maximilian I in the middle of the 1490s made the city by the Imperial Capital, turning the quiet Alpine town to one of the most famous cities in Europe. Progssburg patriotism made Innsbruck by the Tyrolean Resistance Center during the French-Bavarian Occupation of Napoleonic Wars, and he even served as the capital of the leader of Andreas Hofher’s resistance during his short domination as a Tyrol Regency in 1809. Then his role was reduced to the Center for Regional Business and Culture, but he still remains one of the most beautiful cities in the country, and the only one who is surrounded by mountains from all sides and thereby able to provide excellent conditions for sports.

Church of St. Jacob
Ferdinandum Museum
In the center of Innsbruck
Fountain fragment in Innsbruck

Modern Innsbruck is an attractive paradox of conservative Tyrolean values and cosmopolitan rhythm of life, a tense industrial and transport assembly – and at the same time one of the purest cities of Europe, the most famous mountain resort of the planet and at the same time – a recognized center of art crafts and a clockwise. Well, the city itself can offer a tourist chain of shops and restaurants, museums and old mansions, noisy nightlife and many excellent places for accommodation.

sights

Most monuments of the history of Innsbruck focuses within Altstadt – Between the Valley of the Inn River and Graben Street, laid on the site of the RVA, who once surrounded the medieval core of the city. From the south to the north district cuts the main artery of Innsbruck – Maria-Theresien-Strasse, famous for his picturesque panorama (it rests on almost the majestic Nordkette wall). But in terms of the abundance of old quarters, it continues to continue Herzog-Friedrich-Strasse, In the northern end resting in a tiny area with complex Goldenes Dakhl. Bay window "Golden roof" (Although actually tile tiles are copper) was built in the 1490s to support the balcony from which the rulers and the imperial court could watch the area below. Part of the building behind directly Goldenes Dahl is now given to a small meeting Museum Maximiliana, The price of the entrance ticket of which (3.6 euros) is just visiting the famous balcony. Numerous Gothic mansions lined up on the western side of Herzog-Friedrich-Strasse. The most famous of them is lying almost opposite "Golden roof" Helblenghaus (beginning of XVII in.), trimmed by rococo style, is like an icy wall of the mountain (it is interesting that ordinary residential apartments are still located here, and in the way it is towering Tower Stadturm, From the top platform of which (2.5 euro) opens a beautiful panorama of the city.

COMPLEX GULDENES-DAHL
Balcony S "Golden roof"
Helblenghaus
Tower Stadturm

From Goldez Dahl numerous old alleys lead north to the square Domplatz and Church of St. Jacob, considered typical samples of the architecture of the XVIII century. And east begins the complex Palace Hofburg (XIV-XVIII centuries.), built at the very place where Leopold III placed his court. Most of the preserved premises of the complex (open daily from 9.00 to 19.00; 5.5 euros) was built in the XVIII century according to the instructions of Empress Mary Teresia, and now part of it is used as a museum. Not far from the palace, near the eastern gate of medieval altstadt, rises outwardly modest Church Hofkirhe, which houses Kenotaph emperor Maximiliana with a huge sarcophague, surrounded by a whole gallery of sculptures of the ancient rulers of the country and battle paintings. Near the entrance to the church lies the grave of Andreas Hofher, Tyrolean Patriot, executed in Mantua by order of Napoleon in 1810. And in the depths of the church, in the so-called Zilberkapell ("Silver chapel"), I can find a crypt of Ertzgertzog Ferdinand II – Maiden Maximilian I and Regent Tyrol, as well as the grave of Ferdinand’s first wife, Proshirotnya Philippe Welser, for which this chapel was built in general.

Next door to Hofkirch is located Tyrolean Folklore Museum (5 euro entrance or 6.5 euros for a joint ticket with a church) with an excellent collection on the history and culture of this land. Literally 5 minutes walk south Ferdinandum Museum (TIROLER LANDESMUSEUM FERDINANDEUM; END 8), whose collection is built around the assembly of archaeological finds and paintings by the XV-XIX centuries (most of the work belongs to the masters of the so-called Pushtal school, based around the town of Bruunk – Modern Bruniko on the territory of Italy).

Herzog-Friedrich-Strasse
Wine house in Innsbruck
Houses on Herzog-Friedrich-Strasse

Leaving the center through Universitatstrasse, literally in the 1st quarter north of Museumstrasse you can see the old imperial Arsenal Tsoyughaus, Also built at Maximilian I. Now there is a small historical and local history collection, a considerable part of which is also dedicated to Andreas Khofer. South Altstadt Maria-Theresien-Strasse runs through a network of rather noisy streets of the geographical center of the city, built up mostly residential buildings of the XIX century, now given under shops and restaurants. The center of this part of the city is considered Column Annazaul, Mounted in honor of the defeat of the Bavarians on St. Anne’s Day (July 26, 1703.). It is from this place that the most beautiful types along Maria-Theresien-Strasse north and snowy mountain peaks, crown framing creamy yellow urban quarters with their red tiled roofs. In several quarters east, on the second floor of the Office of the Austrian Alpine Association (OAV) on Wilhelm-Greil-Strasse, is located Museum Alpenfer, Who offers a brief overview of the history of mountaineering and assistance in organizing climbing in the region.

Column Annazaul
Church on Maria-Theresien-Strasse
Houses on Maria-Theresien-Strasse

South of Maria-Theresien-Strasse is located Galerie Im Taxispalais (FREE entry) – Innsbruck’s main exhibition complex with regularly carried out in perfectly adapted for this inner courtyard with artistic expositions. And over the northern end of the street dominates strict Triumphal Arch Triumbust, Built in honor of the anniversary of the marriage of the son of Mary Teresia Leopold (future emperor Leopold II) in 1756.

Ottoburg
Multicolored houses on the Inn River
Embankment of the River Inn

Lying in the shadow of an attractive wooded hill Bergisel (940 m) South suburb Wilten (Wilten) will offer a whole tourist "constellation" Baroque churches and small museums, among which such famous objects like Basilica Wilten in Rococo style (1752 g.), Wilten Abbey (XV-XVII centuries.) With its famous gates that guard the statues of the giants of FRACE and Gaimon (according to the myth, it is at this place that the wandering killer of Dragons Guymon in the dispute killed the local giant of Firsu, or Tirsuus, and founded this abbey as an epitimia), a small transport museum right across the road From Basilica, Museum of bells at the corner of Leopoldstrasse and Egger-Lienz-Strasse, the Battlefield of Bergisel (here rebellious Tyrolets, under the leadership of Andreas Hofher, broke the Franco-Bavarian forces in 1809) with the museum of freedom fighters (Bergisel-kaiserjagermuseum) and a small park with a monument Hopera, as well as the famous Sprungstadion with his springboards used in the Olympic Games of 1964 and 1976 (a single ticket for the funicular and Bergisel-Kaiserjagermuseum costs 7.9 euros).

But most of all visitors are usually attracted by the residence of Ertzgezzog Ferdinand II – Castle Ambras (XVI B.) – one of the most beautiful examples of the Renaissance era architecture in Austria. Located 5 km south-east of Altstadt and easily affordable trams No. 6 (stop Schloss Ambraras) and No. 3 (ultimate amraserstrasse), this extensive palace and park complex contains a whole set of interesting objects and collections on its territory, including great Collection of medieval armor Rustammer, Kunstkamera, famous Spanish Hall (1569-1572.) With its magnificent carved ceiling and portraits 27 Tyrol rulers (now there are regularly concerts of classical music), the top castle with an extensive portrait gallery and the Altar of St. George (XV-XVI centuries.), the panoramic platform of Rundgemald (nearby is the Hungerburgbahn funicular station, connecting the hill with the surrounding mountains), as well as many other interesting objects. At the same time, Ambras is considered the only model of the European medieval palace complex, not only to our days in all its glory, but also preserved all the collections and meetings replenished for many centuries. It is even depicted on one of the most famous collectible coins – Ambras Castle Silver Coin 5 Euro.

Tourist office

Main Tourist Office Innsbruck (Burggraben, 3, www.Innsbruck.info) is open daily from 9.00 to 18.00. Branches are available on the area at the station (open daily from 9.00 to 19.00) and on the road from the Innsbruck-Sud highway. You can exchange currency, buy tickets for concerts, access the Internet and purchase Innsbruck Card (24 hours – 21 euros, 48 hours – 26 euros, 72 hours – 31 euros), providing free entry to most of the most interesting places in the city, free Using public transport (along with convenient Sightseer Bus) and the right to one tide on the funicular on each of the routes around Innsbruck (Nordkette-Hafelekar, Patscherkofel, Hungerburgbahn and Axamer Lizum). If you stay in the city for several nights, then in addition you can get Innsbruck Club Card (usually issued directly at the hotel or in the tourist office), which provides a number of discounts for visiting some attractions, cable roads and ski slopes, as well as a free night-night tour of the city.

Around the city

In the vicinity of the city a huge number of beautiful mountains, so they have developed a special route to visit them Stubaier Hohenweg, Going from the shelter to the shelter, from the pass to the pass practically around the entire mountain range south-west Innsbruck. Moreover, the level of training the trail and the abundance of shelters make heavy backpacks completely unnecessary, and you can quite pick up the length of the transition to the level of tourist.

Usually going clockwise tour starts from the villages Neustift (Neustift) or Sale (Neder, both about 15-18 km south of Innsbruck), goes south through the Pinsoral Pinnistal Pinnisjoch slopes (Pinnisjoch, 2380 m) to the Pass of the same name and the Innsbrucker Hutte shelter, surrounded by the peaks of tribulaun and habicht (3277 m). From here you can go down on the funicular to the Gshnytal valley or move further, to the Bremer Hutte shelter. Nurnberger Hutte). Then turns the route to Sulzenau Hutte, passing by the most beautiful carot lakes, seawriters and alpine meadows.

From Dresdner Hutte (usually the fifth day of the way, if you decide to pass the whole route) the route splits on a simpler path in the direction of Mount Peliokh (portion) and the track for experienced climbers on the slopes of Groserer Treger (Grosser Trogler, 2902 m), from which exciting Panorama of the highest peak of the region – Zuccherhutl (Zuckerhutl, 3507 m). Then there is a tour of glaciers (quite serious, by the way – the height here is rarely less than 2700 m) and the descent to Neue Regensberger Hutte and Franz Senn Hutte along the picturesque Mountain River Valley. From here you can climb to the beautiful Lake Rinnense, on Rinnenschpitz or visit the narrow rinnenider gorge. And the last day is usually dedicated to the campaign on the mountain slopes above the OberbergTal Valley and the release of Starkenberger Hutte, from where the panoramas of the Stuba Valley are opening, and then the descent back to the Neustift.

Ski rest

Innsbruck – the legend of skiing: the city twice took the Winter Olympic Games (1964 and 1976.), one of the largest centers of winter holidays in Austria and one of the most colorful cities in Europe. Almost all the slopes of the surrounding valleys are braided by a network of descents and lifts, and the most picturesque areas are built up with colorful resort settlements, and often absolutely new, specially designed for the needs of mountain recreation fans. Nine major ski areas in the vicinity of Innsbruck (Seegrube-Nordkette, or Nordpark Seegrube – Hafelekar, Patscherkofel, Axamer Lizum, Glungezer, Kühtai, Muttereralmbahn, Rangger Köpfl, Schlick 2000 and Stubaier Gletscher) a total offer of about 285 km of perfectly prepared slopes at elevations from 900 to 3200 meters, more than 100 km of plain routes, snowboard park and many trekking paths on the slopes of the surrounding mountains. Moreover, many sports centers lie so close to the city that the locals easily ski on the lunch break or before breakfast.

Nearest city ski area – Nordkette (Nordkette, www.NordPark.AT) surrounds Zegrube Station (Segrube, 2500 m). It can be climbed here from almost from the city center on a modern gondola and ride quite serious tracks of the area of Hafelekarrinne (for children there is a separate Kids-Arena zone) or visit the Alpine Zoo Karwendel Alpine Park. And cool "black" The route is located almost above the city quarters.

South of the city are easily accessible (serviced by municipal public transport) Igls (IGLS) and Pached (PATSCH), from which Patscherkofelbahn (WWW.Patscherkofelbahnen.AT) on the slopes of the Passcherkofel, 2246 m (Patscherkofel, 2246 m), where about three dozen descents of all levels are laid. This area is especially good for beginners – with a drop of heights from 900 to 2246 meters here, there are 14 km of mountain and 18 km of plain routes, 8 lifts, there is a sports center with a swimming pool, covered tennis courts, dials for squash and keselbana, outdoor and closed rollers with a platform For curleng, unique bobslene route, cinema, several restaurants and bars. You can add another 18 km of descents and 8 lifts of the young ski area Tulfhes (Tulfes) lying on the same slopes only 2 km east.

West of Igls lies suburb Mutters (Mutters), providing access to the popular Mutter-Alm Range Zone (WWW.Muttereralm.info) on the northern slopes of the Mountain Lavel (Nokkspitze, 2403 m) – only about 11 km of descents, mainly "blue" and "Red".

And 4 km west of the city is a town Aksams (Axams) – starting point for lifting on the slopes of the ski area Axamer-faith (AXAMER LIZUM, WWW.Axamer-lizum.AT) at 9 kilometers south. This is one of the main areas of riding the central part of Tyrol – when heights from 874 to 2343 meters operate 2 "Black" Trails with a length of 7.8 km with a parallel zone of freeride, order of one and a half dozen picturesque and well-groomed "Red" Trails plus a few "Intermediate blue". Moreover, many of them were laid specially for the Olympic Games, equipped with a whole network of snow guns and modern instrumentation. At the bottom of the Bougiel and equipped with a zone for beginner skiers.

Two Western Range Zones – Ranger–Köpfl (www.Rangger-koepfl.AT) I Kyutay (www.Lifte.AT) lie on the northern slopes of the Valley of Mesla, forming a sequential chain from the extensive mountain circus Kyutay (2450 m) and running to the north slopes of Mount Ranger Keplefl (1939 m). The tracks are here for the most part "Red", not very long, but with a very interesting relief. The main zone of night skiing is also open. Kyutay is also considered the most highly mountainous (2016 m) Winter Resort of Austria, with a reliable snow cover from December to May. From Innsbruck or Ets (Valley Eztal) here you can get here, using free ski buses. A few years ago, Kyutay joined the seven other resorts in the vicinity of Innsbruck (including the Year-round Glacier Stubay), having a single ski pass Glacier Lift Pass.

Further from the capital of Tyrol (35 km to the southwest) are the most versatile slopes of the glacier Stubay (www.Stubaier-Gletscher.COM) where you can ride almost all year. Tourist office Innsbruck organizes trips to the summer glacier (approximately 49 euros per person, the price includes a bus ride, rental equipment and fees for lifts). But more convenient access to the glacier is provided from the numerous towns of the nearby Valley of Stubaital.

Intensively masterful and new ski areas, such as Kelleriokh (Kellerjoch, 25 km east Innsbruck), Stanks (Stans, 30 km east) and Elbogen (Ellbogen, 11 km south city). And given the fact that to the slopes of Matreya or Seefeld from here no more than 12 km in both cases, it is easy to present the true scale of the development of skiing on this small in the general part of the Tyrolean land.

For all this variety of tracks and lifts, an extensive system of subscriptions has been developed. In each area of skiing, there are local ski-passages, such as the day on Nordkette or Pacchangofel will cost approximately 25.5 euros. Moreover, with the club card CLUB INNSBRUCK Card, you can buy them with a small discount. And at the same time, you can use numerous common subscriptions that include several nearby regions.

Innsbruck Gletcher Ski Pass subscription will provide access to the entire ski infrastructure around Innsbruck (including the Stubai Glacier, but without Seefeld) and for the innsbruck Club Card holders will cost 90 euros for 3 days or 155 euros for 6 days. InnsBruck Super Ski Pass subscription offers a combination of some tracks around the city with the resorts of Arlberg and Kitzbühel (only 735 km of the tracks, 147 euros for 4 days).

The infrastructure of recreation in the Innsbruck region is considered one of the most advanced in the country – it is more difficult to say what is not here than to describe all the variety of hotels, restaurants, bars, sports and nightclubs, ski huts, sang and bobslery trails, fan parks and rinks, schools and schools and kindergartens, rolling offices and excursion routes. Free bus connects all 9 ski regions together, and almost a hundred lifts can cover all the main slopes.

The Skania Season in the Innsbruck region continues from the end of December to the beginning of April, however, in the hood, the snow lies for a month longer, and on the glab weight you can ride almost all year round.

How to get

You can get to Innsbruck by air from anywhere in the world – the local airport is considered one of the best in the mountainous planet. Also easy to reach the train from Munich (about 150 km on the way), Vienna (380 km) or Bolzano (90 km).