Idyllically situated on the Inn, the Alpine metropolis of Innsbruck already inspires its guests with its enchanting silhouette, in the background of which the impressive Karwendel mountain range stretches towards the sky. The fifth largest city in Austria is known for its historical sights and at the same time the capital Tyrol presents itself as an attractive shopping metropolis and modern university city. A visit to Innsbruck is always a gain due to the wide range of cultural offerings and so the multifaceted nature of the city inspires visitors from all over the world.
Historic Innsbruck and its sights
The old town of Innsbruck is characterized by historic house facades that adorn magnificent buildings, onion domes and impressive sights. Numerous buildings in the old town were built during the reign of Emperor Maximilian I, whose tomb is also located in Innsbruck’s old town. Since Innsbruck’s old town has countless architectural highlights and buildings steeped in history, the sightsof Innsbruck mentioned here are only exemplary and it is worthwhile to walk through the city with your eyes open, because there is a lot to discover.
The Hofburg and the Hofkirche
One of the most magnificent buildings in the old town is the Hofburg, which was once built and inhabited by the Habsburgs. The complex, which has been converted into a castle, is now in Rococo style and can be visited in parts. The magnificent design goes back to Empress Maria Theresa, who brought the courtly Viennese Rococo, which was popular at the time, to Innsbruck in this way. Members of the imperial family continued to live in the Innsbruck Hofburg until 1918, the end of the monarchy in Austria. The ballroom, which enchants with its size and murals, is particularly worth seeing. But the Gardesaal and the Andreas Hofer Saal are also very popular with visitors, followed by the fantastically furnished salons and the imperial apartments. A special feature is the Hofkirche on the edge of the old town, because here you will find the tomb of Emperor Maximilian I, which is framed by 28 larger-than-life bronze figures.
The Helblinghaus
One of the most beautiful buildings in the city is undoubtedly the Helblinghaus in the old town. With its baroque stucco façade, the building attracts attention. Originally, the 15th-century burgher house was built in the Gothic style, but later the plasterer Anton Gigl was commissioned to make the stucco work that has survived to this day, and so the house is now adorned with lush flower tendrils, shells, fruits and putti.
The Cathedral of St. James
Rather simple from the outside, the Cathedral of St. James is one of the most interesting churches in the city. Art treasures such as the painting Mariahilf by Lucas Cranach the Elder adorn the cathedral, which probably adorned the city as early as 1181 and 1182. The first documentary mention dates back to 1270. Particularly impressive is the tomb of Maximilian III and the Solomon’s Columns. A special highlight are the ceiling frescoes by Cosmas Damian Asam.
The Golden Roof
Known worldwide as Innsbruck’s landmark, the Golden Roof is one of the city’s tourist attractions. This is the roof of a bay window at the new courtyard, which was covered with 2,657 fire-gilded shingles. The new courtyard was built in 1420 and is now accessible as the Golden Roof Museum. If you take a closer look at the trouble, you will notice that not only the gilded shingles are a highlight, but also the reliefs on the bay window are extremely worth seeing.
Experience nature directly above the city
If you spend a few days on holiday in Innsbruck , you can not only enjoy city life to the fullest, but also the magnificent landscape of Tyrol. From Innsbruck’s old town, nature lovers can take the Nordkettenbahn up to the Hafelekar. It is the highest attraction in the city. With the right equipment, you can not only enjoy a wonderful view over the city, but also the Goethe Trail and the via ferrata. In this respect, Innsbruck is a special city, because hardly any other big city offers the opportunity to get from the hustle and bustle of the city directly to the Alpine idyll.
Cultural highlights in Innsbruck
The university and shopping city of Innsbruck is known for its diverse cultural scene. Numerous theatres, museums, festivals, galleries and concert stages attract visitors. The spectrum of events ranges from the dance summer to the festival weeks of early music to the traditional Christmas market. It is worth taking a look at the city’s current calendar of events before the trip in order to put together an attractive cultural programme for yourself. Recurring events include:
- Air & Style Snowboard Contest
- Mountain New Year’s Eve
- New Oerlens Festival
- Innsbruck Solstice
- Afro Meeting
- Innsbruck International Film Festival
- Insbruck Mountain Christmas
- World Music Festival
- Tyrolean Dramatist Festival
- Four Hills Tournament
The taste of Innsbruck
From a culinary point of view, traditional inns, cosy alpine huts and restaurants attract visitors in and around Innsbruck, some of which also offer haute cuisine. Basically, Tyrolean cuisine is hearty, but also shines with sweet specialties that inspire. In addition to classic restaurants, Innsbruck also attracts trendy cafés, bars and clubs. In addition to traditional Tyrolean dishes such as bacon dumplings, Kaspresknödel, Kasspatzln and Gröstl, Innsbruck also attracts numerous restaurateurs with Italian cuisine and international restaurants from Asian to Mexican are also present in the Tyrolean capital. Accordingly, every sightseeing tour can also be crowned with a culinary highlight.
