Sight of Innsbruck

Innsbruck lies in the valley of Inn, in the immediate foothills of Alps, about 30 kilometres north of the Brenner Pass, the most feasible path to Italy. This river gave it not only its name (because Innsbuck is a compound meaning bridge over river Inn), but also predestined its importance. This place was popluated for its strategic location for the first time about 3,000 years ago, that prove finds from the Neolithic period and urns with the remains from the Bronze Age. In 4th century BC a Roman fortress Vedildena was built here, that had to protect the Roman path connecting Verona with the Brenner Pass and Regensburg. After its destruction, a Premonstratensian monastery Wilten was founded here, which was running a ferry over river Inn, and later also a colony, which obtained municipal rights in 1205 and whose influence and importance quickly grew, because it controlled a trading route to Italy.

Imperial chateau (Hofburg) connected with the court church (Hofkirche) was established by emperor Maximilian I. of Habsburg as a main residence before 1500, chateau with park was extended in lately Baroque style around 1760. In Hofkirche emperor Maximilian I. set up a marble mausoleum with wrought iron grilles, surrounded by bronze statues of standing roman emperors, beginning with Charlemagne, over conquerors of the Holy Land, to the Habsburg monarchs and their wives.

Premonstratensian monastery Wilten with Baroque church of years 1751-1756 was built on a location of the early Christian church from 5th century and Romanesque monastery from 12th century, whom preceded a Roman fortress Vedildena.

Ambras is a Renaissance chateau, which was built by archduke Ferdinand of Tyrol on the hill southeast of the city. He relocated in it his art collections from Křivoklát, which it houses up to this day under the administration of the Viennese art history museum.

Bergisel – Ski bridge on Bergisel was constrcucted for Winter Olympics 1964, when ski jumper Dalibor Motejlek obtained the only one (bronze) medal for Czech Olympic team on it; nowadays the bridge is known from annually organized Four Hills Tournament.

Restaurants recommended

Alfred Miller's Schoneck
Restaurant priced with Michelin star.

6 Weiherburggasse
Innsbruck

Lichtblick/360°
All-glass high-rise restaurant and bar have 360° views of the city and mountains and a viewing terrace round the outside.

Maria-Theresien-Strasse 18 / 7. patro
Innsbruck

Wilten