Spring has arrived in Innsbruck, the Capital of the Alps – and it’s the perfect time to explore the city’s unique combination of urban culture and spectacular natural scenery.
Dramatic landscapes, dazzling architecture and a real fairy tale castle are among the incredible sights on offer according to Verena Abenthung, Austria Guide and blogger for Innsbruck Tourismus, who has revealed her top five must-see destinations that travellers can enjoy and explore in the city in the mountains:
- Golden Roof
One of Innsbruck’s most popular attractions, the landmark Golden Roof, (Goldenes Dachl), sits in the heart of the old town.
Built by the Emperor Maximilian I – who aimed to create a monument to himself – the roof is an iconic structure recognised the world over.
It consists of 2,657 fire-gilded copper shingles and is richly decorated with frescoes and reliefs.
Verena said: “You can actually see real gold.
“The original reliefs, made of delicate sandstone, can be seen in the adjoining museum in true close-up, with the protected monument able to be viewed via mirrors which have been strategically placed round the museum.”
- Nordkettenbahnencable railways
According to Verena, the impressive mountain scenery of the Nordkette range is often Innsbruck’s greatest attraction. She said: “Visitors are surprised at how incredibly close the mountains are and how easily they can be reached via the Nordkettenbahnen cable railways.”
In her view, the station buildings, created by Zaha Hadid in 2007, are among Innsbruck’s finest testimonies to modern architecture and she describes the ascent as a journey into the history of Alpine architecture, as the cable car station buildings on the mountain are the originals dating from 1928.
“As you reach the Seegrube station, the Alpine feeling begins. I recommend continuing right up, to the ‘Top of Innsbruck’ at an altitude of over 2,300 metres.
“The views of the city and towards the south are only beaten by the views towards the north and to the Karwendel mountains, the home of Austria’s largest and oldest nature park, and families and animal lovers can also visit the Alpine Zoo, a special stop on the Hungerburgbahn funicular.”
- Bergisel ski jump
A world-famous landmark for sports and architecture fans, ski jumping competitions have been held up on the Bergisel since 1927.
The famous Four Hills Tournament has been held there for decades and the Olympic flame has been lit at the location three times.
Each day in summer, when the weather is good, bold ‘show jumpers’ demonstrate their skills on the ski jump, which was redesigned by Zaha Hadid in 2002 and has come to symbolise Innsbruck as a city of sport.
Verena also recommends a visit to the Tirol Panorama nearby, where you can see the giant circular painting illustrating the famous battles of the Tyrolean struggle for freedom in 1809, as well as a trip to the transparent viewing platform known as the ‘Drachenfelsen’ on the Bergisel circular hiking trail, which in good weather offers fantastic views of the idyllic Sill Gorge.
- Court Church
The simple, unassuming exterior belies a treasure trove of monuments and history to be found inside the Court Church, which features the funerary monument of Emperor Maximilian I – an ornate tomb guarded by 28 larger-than-life bronze figures.
“The tomb, which was created by the best artists of the time and took 82 years to complete, famously lies empty because the Emperor’s last wish, expressed on his deathbed, was that he be buried in his native city of Wiener Neustadt.
“The Court Church is full of treasures, including the Ebert organ from the Renaissance period. and monuments.
“A multi-media show, held in rooms belonging to the cloisters, prepares visitors for a tour of the church by taking them on a journey through its history.”
- Ambras Castle
A fairy tale castle containing historic rarities, Ambras Castle was built by Archduke Ferdinand II for his wife Philippine Welser.
Exhibits include a portrait of ‘Dracula’ as well as the ‘Tödlein’ – a delicately carved wooden skeleton in an unusual pose.
Another must-see is the ‘Spanish Hall’ with its richly coloured paintings and impressive wooden ceiling, which for Verena is the highlight of the castle. She also recommends a walk round the castle gardens before or after visiting the castle: “The peacocks – some of them white – that are free to roam around are simply part of the Ambras Castle experience.
“Philippine is still remembered on account of her bath, a kitchen herb garden that she planted and her cookbook,” Verena says.
As Ferdinand was a passionate collector, the palace also contains extensive armouries, cabinets of artworks and curiosities. Its collections are regarded as the oldest museum in the area known as Mitteleuropa and contain all kinds of rarities.
See it your way with The Innsbruck Card
Visitors to Innsbruck can access Verena’s top five destinations – and 17 further attractions – for free using
the Innsbruck Card.
Valid for 24, 48 or 72 hours, the card includes a range of free transport options from City of Innsbruck’s public transport services (IVB), the Hop-on Hop-off Bus Sightseer Innsbruck and three hours of bike rental. Also part of the offer is a return trip on both the Nordkettenbahnen cable railways and the Patscherkofel cable cars.
For information see www.innsbruck.info/innsbruckcard.
