Datum: 06.06.2018
Ort: Region Innsbruck
Ressorts: Bildung, Geschichte, Kultur
Kunde: Innsbruck Tourismus
Traces of
the Habsburgs. Imperial Palace and Court Church.
The traces of the Habsburgs are to be found everywhere in Innsbruck. The
Court Church, also known as the Schwarz-Mander-Kirche (Black Men Church) houses
28 larger than life bronze figures surrounding the empty tomb of Emperor
Maximilian I. This is one of the greatest imperial tombs in Europe and is close
to the “Hofburg” Imperial Palace, one of the three most important cultural
buildings in Austria next to the Vienna Hofburg and Schönbrunn Palace. It was
Empress Maria Theresia who commissioned the remodelling of the Baroque palace
with state rooms (Giant Hall) and imperial apartments.
Ambras Castle. Renaissance dreams.
Perched on a hill to the south of Innsbruck is Ambras Castle, built by the
Habsburg Archduke Ferdinand II as a demonstration of his love for Philippine
Welser, his upper middle-class wife. The Chamber of Art and Curiosities is a
source of endless wonder, revealing the Renaissance world with all sorts of
strange, valuable and wonderful exhibits. The highlight of the castle is the
magnificent Spanish Hall, which resounds in summer with the wonderful music of
the Ambras Castle Concerts.
Maria Theresien Strasse. Where history comes alive.
The splendid avenue is lined with gorgeous Baroque and classical palaces.
The Town Hall Galleries and Kaufhaus Tyrol are striking buildings in terms of
their architecture and also delightful places to shop. The white and gold Anna
Column rises majestically and, to the south, the Triumphal Arch marks the end
of this impressive street, a living history book and place to enjoy spending a
relaxed time strolling and looking around.
Museum of Tyrolean Folk Art. Embark on a journey through time!
The museum is home to an interesting and entertaining arrangement of
historical costumes, a notable collection of nativity scenes, eerie and
shimmering traditional figures and depictions of the harshness and poverty of
what life used to be like in the mountains, taking you on an exciting journey
back through time to previous centuries.
Swarovski Crystal Worlds. Magical glitter fireworks.
Swarovski Crystal Worlds in Wattens (about 15 km east of Innsbruck) transports
you into a magical realm. Glittering chambers of wonder designed by
international artists unfold their magic, which continues outside in the
gardens beneath the sparkling crystal cloud. Children love the play tower,
playground and labyrinth. You can also find yourself surrounded by glitter
fireworks in the flagship store in Innsbruck's Old Town.
City meets mountains. Innsbruck’s Nordkettenbahnen.
In no other European city of a comparable size are the hustle and bustle of
the city and the quiet solitude of the high mountains so close together as they
are in Innsbruck. You can enjoy a quick espresso in one of the street cafés in
the Old Town and, 20 minutes later, you’re in the kingdom of the ibex and
chamois at an altitude of 2,300 metres. You can marvel at the fantastic
360-degree panorama and enjoy an intimate experience of the alpine fauna and
flora. Call in at the Seegrube, 400 metres below, for the Ride & Dine
(every Friday) and, on your way, you can experience a journey through some
architectural gems of the 20th and 21st centuries: Zaha Hadid’s Hungerburgbahn
stations, Franz Baumann’s cable car stations from the 1920s and Snøhetta’s architectural
creations on the Nordkette Panorama Trail.
Alpenzoo Innsbruck. Meet lynx, bear and eagle.
Bear and pygmy owl, golden eagle and pond turtle, ibex and otter. There’s
no other zoo in the world where visitors can encounter such a complete
collection of wild animals native to the Alpine region. It’s so exciting to
observe wildlife in their natural surroundings.
Wilten Abbey. Giants’ fierce battle and boys’ tender voices.
The battle between two giants led to the abbey’s construction, and the
legend of the founding of Wilten Abbey is represented in the Gothic statue of
the giant Haymon. Otherwise, Baroque splendour, magnificent frescoes and
wrought-iron grids dominate the interior of the Collegiate Church of Wilten.
The tender and harmonious voices of the world-famous Wilten Boys Choir are
frequently heard here.
Bergisel Innsbruck. Sky jumpers past and present.
Zaha Hadid's striking ski jump is the annual venue for a number of ski
jumping events. The Giant Panoramic Painting, a realistic depiction of the 19th
century battle painted on 1,000 m2 of canvas, is located in the
Tirol Panorama museum. The Bergisel offers views of great architecture and the
museum provides lots of interesting insights.
Stams Abbey. Baroque splendour surrounded by green meadows.
Anyone approaching Innsbruck from the west will be amazed by the mighty
onion domes: yellow and white Baroque splendour surrounded by green meadows. It
houses a unique high altar designed as a tree of life with 84 carved figures,
and the wrought-iron rose lattice has 80 flowers, each different from the
other. It also has a royal tomb and the Holy Blood Chapel. Please don’t forget
to visit the abbey shop!