Innsbruck
Innsbruck is located in the western portion of Austria and is the capital of the federal state of Tyrol. It covers an area of forty square miles and has a population of over one hundred and seventeen thousand people. It is situated at the Sill River in Inn Valley. Innsbruck is flanked by two mountains, the Patscherkofel and the Nordkette. Patscherkofel Mountain rises over seven thousand feet above the city and Nordkette Mountain rises over seventy-six hundred feet above the city. Innsbruck is a city that can trace its historical roots all the way back to the fourth century when the Roman Empire erected the Veldidena fortiication. This military encampment was used to defend the road from Verona to Augsburg which was an economically vital road to trade in the area. During the fourteenth century the city became the capital of Tyrol and was also the residence to Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I. As a result it was considered to be the political and cultural center of Europe. During the sixteenth century the Archduke of Austria received the city, as well as other possessions in Austria. It was during this time that the Scloss Ambras was erected.
During the Napoleonic wars, the entire region of Tyrol was ceded to Bavaria. The peasants of Tyrolean rose up and their army defeated the Bavarian and French forces on the Berg Isel. Andreas Hofer, the leader of the impromptu peasant army, then made Innsbruck is administrative center. However, this didn’t last long as the Tyrolean army was eventually defeated by French and Bavarian forces in 1814 and the city of Innsbruck was returned to Bavaria. As a result of the uprising, Andreas Hofer was executed and his remains were housed in the Franciscan church located in the city.
Today, Innsbruck is considered to be the economic and cultural hub of Austria. It is also one of the most visited cities in Austria and boasts an impressive one million hotel bookings each and every year. Tourism is therefore its most important economic activity and is driven by the historic buildings, the cultural diversity of the city and the large number of sport facilities located there. One of the most popular attractions in Innsbruck is the Golden Roof. The Golden Roof was constructed in the fourteenth century by Archduke Friedrich IV to be uses as the residence of Tyrolean royalty. The name ‘Golden Roof’ refers to the three story balcony located on the central plaza. This balcony was built by Emperor Maximilian I to be used as a royal box where he could enjoy sporting tournaments in the square beneath it. The balcony is covered with over twenty-six hundred copper tiles.
Another popular attraction in the city is Hofkirche Church. This Gothic church was built in the mid sixteenth century by Ferdinand I as a tribute to his grandfather Maximilian I. The main feature of this church is the large black onyx cenotaph that is located in the center of the nave. Surrounding the cenotaph is twenty-eight bronze statues which are approximately eight feet tall. The statues depict famous people of the time and include such historical figures as Queen Juana of Spain, Duke Charles the Bold of Burgundy, Duke Philip the Good of Burgundy, Theoderic the Great, Count Albrecht IV of Habsburg, Kunigunde of Austria, King Ferdinand the Catholic of Spain, King Arthur, Duke Albrecht II, King Albrecht II, King Rudolf I, Godfrey of Bouillon, Queen Elisabeth of Hungary, Queen Maria of Burgundy, Queen Elizabeth of Tyrol, Emperor Frederick III, Albert I of Germany, Archduchess Margarethe of Austria, Empress Maria Bianca Sforza, Duchess Cymburgis of Masovia and Saint Leopold III among others. A beautiful and historic attraction in Innsbruck is the Schloss Ambras. This Germanic castle was the residence of Archduke Ferdinand II in the mid to late sixteenth century. Today its a museum that houses many important collections of weapons, armor and historical items.
The Innsbruck University Botanic Garden is a two hectare botanical garden that was established in 1911 and is currently run by the Univesity of Innsvruck. Though it was originally constructed in the beginning of the twentieth century, it has been redesigned several times. The garden now contains over five thousand species and is divided into several key sections. The first key feature of the garden is the Alpinum. The Alpinum covers six thousand square feet and is the alpine portion of the gardens. It also contains over one thousands plants from the alpine regions of Europe. Other key features of the Alpinum is an area for ferns, a moor and four ponds. The next section of the garden is the Arboretum. The Arboretum contains plants such as perennials, Angiosperms and Gymnosperms. The next section of the garden is the Cactus Houses. This area of the garden covers nine hundred and ninety square feet and contains over five hundred species of cacti. The Cactus-Succulent-Mediterranean House covers an area of eight hundred and forty square feet and houses plants from the Canary Islands, the Mediterranean and New Zealand. The Succulent House contains over five hundred and fifty succulent plants from the Canary Islands, South America and Africa. Other sections of the Innsbruck University Botanic Garden include the Fern House, Fragrance and Touch Garden, Medicinal & Poisonous Plant Garden, The Systematic Garden and the Tropical Greenhouse.
Other attractions in the city of Innsbruck include the Kaiserliche Hofburg, Altes Landhaus, Alte Innbrucke, Altstadt, Annasaule, Helblinghaus, Maria-Theresien-Strabe, Tiroler Landestheater Innsbruck, Triumphpforte, the Bergiselschanze, New Hungerburgbah, Riesenrundgemalde, Tiroler Landesmuseum, Tiroler Volkskunstmuseum, Zeughaus, Tiroler Museumsbahnen, Kaiserjagermuseum, Ursulinenkirche, Dom zu St. Jakob, Stift Wilten, Wiltener basilika, Liebfrauenkirche, Rapoldipark and Schlosspark Ambras. Innsbruck is also a town that is filled with restaurants, cafes, shops and hotels. Some of the more prominent hotels in the city include the Best Western Hotel Goldener Adler, Hilton Innsbruck, Hotel Congress, Romantik Hotel Schwarzer Adler, Best Western Hotel Leipziger Hof, Penz Hotel and the Ibis Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof. Other prominent hotels in the city include the Grand Hotel Europa and Hotel Roemerhof.
