Innsbruck
University City.
General Information
Other Name: The Bridge Over The Inn, District: Innsbruck, State: Tyrol, Austria
Area: 0 -
Languages Spoken: German
Long Distance Code: 0512
Importance: Innsbruck is the cultural and economic center of western Austria and is one of the most famous and substantial tourist centres, with more than a million overnight stays.
Best Time to Visit: January to March and April
International Access: Connected to all the major cities of Austria.Description
Innsbruck is the capital city of the federal state of Tyrol in western Austria. It is located in the Inn Valley at the junction with the Wipptal (Sill River), which provides access to the Brenner Pass, some 30 km south of Innsbruck. Located in the broad valley between high mountains, the Nordkette (Hafelekar, 2,334 m) in the north, Patscherkofel (2,246 m) and Serles (2,718 m) in the south, it is an internationally renowned winter sports centre, and hosted the 1964 and 1976 Winter Olympics. The word bruck comes from the German word Brücke meaning "bridge" which leads to "the bridge over the Inn".Location
. Located in the broad valley between high mountains, the Nordkette (Hafelekar, 2,334 m) in the north, Patscherkofel (2,246 m) and Serles (2,718 m) in the south.Climate
Due to its altitude and position in Central Europe, far from the coast, Innsbruck has an hemiboreal climate (Köppen classification : Dfb). Winter is cold - colder than those of most major European cities -, and snowy. Winter nights can get frigid, occasionally dropping to -12°C. Spring is brief; days start to get warm, often over 15°C, but nights remain cool or even freezing. Summer is highly variable and unpredictable. Days can be cool (17°C) and rainy, or sunny and extremely hot, sometimes hitting 34°C. In summer, as expected from an alpine climate, the diurnal temperature variation is often very high as nights always remain cool (12°C on average, but sometimes dipping as low as 6°C).
The Castle was built by Archduke Ferdinand II of Austria (1529-1595), Count of Tyrol, in the sixteenth century. It’s divided into a lower and an upper castle set in the remains of a medieval fortress. Once, this was Ferdinand’s favorite residence and the center of his court’s cultural life. The lower castle was built by the Archduke as a museum for his different collections, featuring arms and armor, art and books. They all can be seen today. The Gallery of Wonders contains an exhibition of exotic objects, such as coral, ivory, a rhinoceros’ horn and other artifacts. The upper part of the castle houses the Habsburg’s Portrait Gallery, an inspiring collection of works by Lukas Cranach, Diego Velásquez Anton Mor, Tizian and Van Dyck. Maybe the palace’s most beautiful feature is the George’s Altar of Emperor Maximilian I.
Located at an elevation of about seven hundred and thirty meters this is the highest situated zoo in Europe. It features more than two thousand animal and one hundred and fifty species of Alpine animals. A special feature of this zoo is that it depicts Alpine animals in historical and contemporary form, and this is the only zoo in the world that show such a full collection of European Alpine animals in aquariums, enclosures and outdoor terrariums.
Some other nearby attractions include: Dom zu St. Jakob, Hofkirche, Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum, Tiroler Volkskunst-Museum, The Hungerburg mountain plateau, The Wiltener Basilica, etc.
There is also exclusive variety of both winter and summer activities in Innsbruck and its surroundings – from cross country skiing to hiking and adventure sports. Innsbruck is really a site not to be missed
Some other nearby attractions include: Dom zu St. Jakob, Hofkirche, Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum, Tiroler Volkskunst-Museum, The Hungerburg mountain plateau, The Wiltener Basilica, etc.
There is also exclusive variety of both winter and summer activities in Innsbruck and its surroundings – from cross country skiing to hiking and adventure sports. Innsbruck is really a site not to be missed
Located on the wooded Bergisel Hill and towering high in the sky above the city, the Bergisel Ski Jump is a striking sight. This hill is a historic site. It was once a scene of the 1809 battles in which Andreas Hofer led some Tyrolean peasants against French and Bavarian forces in the Tyrolean War of Independence. The first ski jump was built here in the 1925 and later in 1964 and 1976, the Innsbruck Ski Jump was venue of the Olympic Ski Jumping. After some reconstruction plans, architect Zaha Hadid designed the spectacular new ski jump. Construction works began in 2001 and were completed in September 2002. Zaha Hadid designed what is already regarded as a tourist attraction that should not be missed by every guest to Innsbruck. The Tower stands forty-seven meters tall and provides spectacular views. The new facilities can now house about thirty thousand spectators. The Bergisel Stadium features elevator, panoramic café, gondola and vantage spot on the jumping platform, which are all open to visitors. From the exclusive restaurant there are some breath-taking panoramic views of the surrounding summits of Nordkette, Hohe Munde, Patscherkofel and Serles
Another remarkable sight is the huge two-towered Cathedral St. Jacob. The church was rebuilt somewhere between 1717 and 1724 on the place of an earlier Gothic church, designed by Johann Jakob Herkommer. It is roofed with domes and has a rich baroque interior, part of which was executed by the Asam brothers. One of its major treasurers is the precious Madonna and Child on the main altar, painted by German master Lucas Cranach the Elder.
In the charming Old Town one will find maybe Innsbruck''s greatest tourist attraction and certainly it’s most characteristic landmark - a classic Austrian hybrid of Gothic and Baroque - The Golden Roof. The Old Town of the city is a not large area of medieval buildings, many of them attractively painted in pastel colors and supported by sloping earthquake buttresses. The main street of the Old Town is the broad strip of Herzog-Friedrich-Strasse, which opens out into a central plaza lined with arcades. There is a labyrinth of alleyways, which attract you to take an aimless walk. The Golden Roof was constructed by Archduke Friedrich IV in the fifteenth century as the residence of the Tyrolean sovereigns. It is actually a 3-story balcony on the central square of the Old Town. Capped with 2.738 gold plated copper tiles, it was constructed for Emperor Maximilian I to serve as a luxury royal box where he could enjoy tournaments in the square below. Completed at the beginning of the sixteenth century, the Roof was erected in honour of Emperor’s second marriage - to Bianca Maria Sforza of Milan.
The Imperial Palace was built by Archduke Siegmund in the late Gothic style somewhere around 1460. Later it was rebuilt in the Baroque style between 1754 and 1773 according to the orders of Empress Maria Theresa. The Palace is a great example of the Baroque architecture. The structure has four wings and a splendid two-story Riesensaal (Giant’s Hall), painted in white and gold and filled with portraits of the Hapsburgs. The Imperial Apartments consist of twenty-five state apartments dating from the 18th and 19th century and the Giants’ Hall (the Alp’s most lavish banqueting hall). In addition, there is possibility the Gothic Cellar to be rented for special events.
Just a 15 minutes trip by taking the Wattens bus from Busbahnhof you can go to a magical world you haven''t even imagined! You will arrive on an artificial hill which is actually and enormous face from which mouth spouts a waterfall. But the most amazing thing, hoever, is what is beneath the hill. Inside you will find the Swarovski Crystal World - a magnificent place with 7 linked halls. The place is designed in honour of Daniel Swarovski, founder of the biggest producer of crystal. The world is the art of Andrew Heller and opened in 1995. Since then it has been a major attraction for millions of people.
The entrance is from the big head and it leads to a crystal wall, made of 12 tons of the most perfect crystals in the world. Another hall is the "Planet of Crystals" where you will see a magnificent light show. In the Swarovski Crystal world you will see many artworks by world-known artists - from Andy Warhol to Salvador Dali. You will also be in the heart of a crystal in the Crystal Dome and be a witness of some amazing shows in the Crystal Theatre.
After the visit you can also buy some beautiful crystal artworks like small musical instruments or beautiful jewelry. In the Swarovski Crystal World you can also go to the alpine garden where you will see some of the plants, typical for the region. There is also a very interesting children''s playground.
The entrance is from the big head and it leads to a crystal wall, made of 12 tons of the most perfect crystals in the world. Another hall is the "Planet of Crystals" where you will see a magnificent light show. In the Swarovski Crystal world you will see many artworks by world-known artists - from Andy Warhol to Salvador Dali. You will also be in the heart of a crystal in the Crystal Dome and be a witness of some amazing shows in the Crystal Theatre.
After the visit you can also buy some beautiful crystal artworks like small musical instruments or beautiful jewelry. In the Swarovski Crystal World you can also go to the alpine garden where you will see some of the plants, typical for the region. There is also a very interesting children''s playground.