The Capital of the Tyrol

The ancient and impressive city of Innsbruck in the Tyrol is known as the capital of ‘the Land of the Mountains’. The city is a major attraction for visitors by virtue of its incomparable Alpine situation, the many delightful places within easy reach, and not least its own wealth of interesting places to visit. The best way to see Innsbruck is to walk around the city either in the early morning or early evening. In the blocks between the station and the Maria Theresienstrasse is the so-called new town, a section rich in sights, cafes and hotels. Also, another interesting way is to take a tram to the point where the Maria Theresienstrasse becomes the Herzog Friedrichstrasse, a thoroughfare which bisects the old city, the part which was within the walls. There you will find the city moat used long ago, narrow Gothic houses, pointed arcades and wrought-iron signs.
Other interesting sights to take in and ensure you visit are the Hofburg (Imperial Palace), with its splendid rococo hall; the Hofkirche, with its twenty-eight awesome bronze statues; the Old Town and the Maria-Theresienstrasse – the world-famous street with its stupendous mountain vista at each end.

The Herzog Friedrichstrasse leads directly to a little cobbled square, the Stadtplatz, which contains the world-famous Goldenes Dachl (Golden roof). The Dachl, a small Gothic balcony three stories high with a steeply pitched gilded roof is a rich gleaming wonder.

It is over 500 years old and was used by royalty as a balcony to observe ceremonies in the square below, and is topped by a roof covered with several thousand gilded copper tiles.  

The entire neighbourhood of the Dachl, containing several of those fountains for which Innsbruck is famous, is a must for sightseers. Try to visit the rococo parish church of Wilten, and be sure to make a journey on one of the cable ascents from Innsbruck to either Hafelekar or Patscherkofel. The entire Tyrol can be seen from there, outspread like a great relief map.  About 1000 ft above Innsbruck, and near the Brenner Pass road and the beautiful mountain scenery of the Stubai Valley, is the village resort of Igls, where the Patscherkofel cable car climbs up to 6,430 ft. For those wanting a. larger and more fashionable resort, there is Seefeld, around 16 miles from Innsbruck on the Munich road.

In 1964 , Innsbruck was centre of the IX Winter Olympics and in 1976 of the XII Winter Olympics. It is also the centre of the celebratated clinics dealing with skiing accidents.