Vacation in Innsbruck
"City and nature" or "sports and culture" are nowhere else closer together than in Innsbruck. The capital city of Tyrol and its surroundings show their visitors uncountable possibilities for active or recreational activities and enchant vacationers with the typical Tyrolean charme and century old traditions.
Museums
For friends of culture Innsbruck affords a variety of different museums.
The State museum which was founded at 1823 is also known as "Ferdinandeum". It has seven collections of several show-collections, which are available in four different languages (English, German, Italian and French)
Since May 1999 the "Museum im Zeughaus" is presented as the house of the Tyrolean cultural history. On belonging of representative collected pieces the visitor walks through the several chapters of Tyrol in chronological order.
The golden roof museum is the memorial for Emperor Maximilian I. (1459 - 1519) who was one of the most significant persons in Europe. He left lots of marks in his favourite city, from which the golden roof became Innsbruck's landmark.
On historical ground - Berg Isel - in the year of 1809 decesive fights of the Tyrolean freedom fighters under the leader Andreas Hofer took place, today there is the "Kaiserjägermuseum". The original painting from Andreas Hofer, which was painted by the famous Tyrolean painter Franz Defregger, dominates the west wall..
Castles and monestaries
Innsbruck is a big chamber of treasures for history and culture, which lasts back more than 800 years.
1919 changed the imperial palace (Hofburg) from the Habsburg holdings into the ownership of the state Austria. The also for disabled persons adjusted museum involves 27 rooms of the formally royal living and representation area on 2nd upper floor in the east wing. The scientific care, publications, restorations, guided tours in 4 languages and educational offers for children build the activities in the museums area.
Ambras castle above Innsbruck, from far visible, is one of the most meaningful sights in the capital city. Its culture-historical meaning is not to take apart from the personality of archduke Ferdinand II (1529 - 1595), who was a real renaissance prince and so promoted art and science.
The baroque building of the St. James cathedral was built from 1717 - 1724 instead of 24 older churches. The former building was Gothic. On the altar there is the famous "Mariahilf" picture from Lucas Cranach the Elder. The thumb of archduke Maximilan III was built from Caspar Gras in the year of 1620.
The monastery Wilten is on the ground of Bergisel. This area was already populated at the urnfield time (aprx. 1000 b. C.). In the place of today's monastery the Romans have erected their colony and their fort "Veldidena". Around the year 565 is in a travelogue told about the church "Laurentius".
Innsbrucks court church (also known as black man church) with the tomb memorial of Emperor Maximilian I is the most meaningful emperor memorial in Europe. 1502 - so more than 500 years - instructet emperor Maximilian I. his court painter, Munich's Gilg Sesselschreiber, with the preperation to build the biggest figural memorial of the occident.
Modern Architecture
In the year 2001 newly rebuilt Olympic ski-jumping stadium and the Bergisel ski jumping event during the international 4-jumps-tour the Bergisel became famous as a sporty and touristic attraction of first joice.
Nowhere else urban space and rough mountains lies just next to each other: with the new north park funicular "Nordkettenbahn" you reach the high alpine area within 20 minutes from Innsbruck's old town centre. The journey begins 560m above sea level direct next to the old town with its historical buildings and the world famous golden roof. Planned and designed by star architect Zara Hadid, who already designed the new Olympic ski-jump in 2001, the funicular with its unique stations sets new standards in international architecture.
Swarovski Crystal Worlds
A water spitting giant head, who magically pulles his observer inside, where wonder-chambers spark a fire of fantasy, was able to become a worldwide known icon within 12 years with more than 7 million visitors. The Swarovski Crystal Worlds.
Alpine Zoo
The alpine zoo is the highest situated zoo in Europe (750 m)! More than 2000 animals of 150 species welcome you to an adventure visit in the fauna of the Alps. The special in this alpine zoological garden is the demonstration of the alpine live forms in history and today. As a theme-zoo it is worldwide unique, which has in its enclosures and averies, aquarium and the free terrariums complete collection of animals of the European Alps.