Innsbruck: An Alpine Edge

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By Inder Raj Ahluwalia

It was that feeling, all over again.

Framed behind me was the most beautiful background imaginable. Mountains with jagged peaks glistening in fresh snow, gradually tapering down to brownish granite, which in turn gave way to thick forest.

It was a magic moment, and like most magic moments, all too soon it was gone.

Innsbruck is one of Austria’s prides and joys. The abundance and proximity of nature and the grandeur of its high mountains are enhanced by the ever-present contrast between ancient traditions and the vitality of a modern city.

Innsbruck @ Innsbruck Tourismus Christof Lackner

Innsbruck @ Innsbruck Tourismus Christof Lackner

The Alps lie literally at your doorstep, which means snow, snow, and more snow. It also means a bracing climate and a wealth of sports. 0ne can go climbing, walk the mountains, mountain bike, or paraglide. Six attractive and popular ski regions, some 53 lifts, 112 km of pistes, over 9 km of high-altitude cross-country tracks, two ski passes, and fun parks explain why Innsbruck was twice chosen to host the Winter Olympics.

Snow and mountains apart, culture is the other great local attraction. It took 800 years for the city’s character to evolve, with a vivid history containing great names like Maria Theresia and Maximilian 1. The Habsburgs loved Innsbruck and made the town their royal seat, and several distinguished artists visited, leaving behind a rich cultural legacy.

Visitors can savour the charms of Tyrolean folk evenings, brass bands, baroque operas, and traditional lederhosen and dinner jackets. The famed opera features notable performances, and exciting shows and performances characterise the nightlife. There’s more activity, by way of the Ambras Castle Concerts, the International Festival of Early Music, and the Summer Dance Festival.

Innsbruck in Winter @ Innsbruck Tourism Christof Lackner

Innsbruck in Winter @ Innsbruck Tourism Christof Lackner

A breadth of Southern Europe appears in the form of stylish churches, red roofs, crafted architecture and cascades of light. A must-see is the romantic, Renaissance-style Ambras Castle with its world-renowned portrait gallery that mirrors over 500 years of Austrian and European history.

Museums abound and focus on classical, modern and popular art. Prominent among them are Maximilianeum, the Kaiserliche Hofburg (Imperial Court Palace), the Museum of Tyrolean Folk Art, the Bell Museum, and the Hofkirche (Court Church).

An hour in town, and I was whisked to the favourite local spot.  Built in 1420, the celebrated Golden Roof - the former residence of the Tyrolean princes, - attracts tourists like mountain flowers attract bees. Maximilian 1 added a loggia over an oriel window and covered it with over 2000 fire-gilt copper tiles. The relief depicts Maximilian 1 with his two wives, the court jester, chancellor, and the coat of arms.


Innsbruck Nordkettenbahn @ Innsbruck Tourism Christof Lackner

Also famous is the Imperial Court Palace, built by Archduke Siegmund the Rich and Emperor Maximilian 1 in late Gothic style, and converted by Empress Maria Theresia.

This has been a university town since 1669, and today the Leopold Franzens University attracts students from the world over.

Dwarfed by a snowy massif, the equivalent of what can be called the main street was as crowded as they come, with shoppers seeking out designer-label brands.

From its delectable cuisine to its fashionable boutique shopping, from its majestic mountainous backdrop to its stately medieval buildings, Innsbruck charms, ensnares and seduces.

So strap up and get going. 

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