Innsbruck is a city in western Austria, and the capital of the federal state of Tirol. It is located in the Inn valley at the junction with the Wipptalk (Sill River) which provides access to the Brennerpass, just about 30 km south of Innsbruck. Located in the broad valley between high mountains, the Nordkette (Hafelekar, 2,334 m) in the north, Patscherkofel (2,246 m) and Serles (2,718 m) in the south, it is an internationally renowned winter sports centre. The name means translated the bridge over the Inn (Brücke=bridge)

The older pedestrian district of Innsbruck with the famous Goldenes Dachl (Golden Roof) and the Alps in the background

History

The first documented mention of Innsbruck dates back to 1187 ("Insprucke"). It served as an important crossing point over the river Inn. The city's seal and coat of arms show a bird's-eye view of the Inn bridge, a design used since 1267. The route over the Brenner Pass was then a major transport and communications link between the north and the south, and the easiest route across the Alps. The revenues generated by serving as a transit station caused the city to flourish.

A large and famous district in Innsbruck - 'Wilten' - got its name from an old Roman settlement 'Veldidana'.

Innsbruck became the capital of all Tyrol in 1429 and later in 15th century the city became a centre of European politics and culture as emperor Maximilian I moved the imperial court to Innsbruck in the 1490s.

During the Napoleonic wars Tyrol was ceded to Bavaria, ally of France. Andreas Hofer led a Tyrolean peasant army in the victory on the Berg Isel against combined Bavarian and French forces, proceeded to make Innsbruck the centre of his administration. The combined army later overran the Tyrolean militia army and Innsbruck was until 1814 part of Bavaria. After the Vienna Congress Austrian rule returned. The Tyrolean hero Andreas Hofer was executed in Mantua and his remains were returned to Innsbruck in 1823 and interred in the Franciscan church.  

Main sights

• Golden Roof
• Ski jump stadium on the Bergisel.
• Kaiserliche Hofburg (Imperial Court)
• Bergiselschanze, designed by Zaha Hadid.
• The tomb of Emperor Maximilian I, Holy Ro man Emperor
• Altes Landhaus (old federal state parliament)
• Altstadt ( Old Town)
• Annasäule
• Schloss Ambras (a Castle)
• Maria-Theresien-Straße (Main Street)
• Triumphpforte

Sports

Due to its location in between high mountains, Innsbruck serves as an ideal place for skiing in winter, and mountaineering in summer. There are several ski resorts around Innsbruck with the Nordkette served by a cable car and additional chair lifts further up. Other ski resorts nearby include Axamer Lizum, Igls, Seefeld, Tulfes and Stubai Valley. The latter makes skiing possible even in the summer due to the glaciated terrain there.

The Olympic Winter Games were held in Innsbruck twice, first in 1964, then in 1976 when the city replaced Denver, Colorado as the venue after Colorado voters rejected a bond referendum to finance the games. Along with St. Moritz, Switzerland and Lake Placid, New York in the United States, it is one of the three places to have twice hosted the Winter Games.  

It also hosted the 1984 and 1988 Winter Paralympics.

Together with the city of Seefeld, Innsbruck organized the Winter Universiade in 2005.

Innsbruck is also one of the host cities for Euro 2008 which is to be held in Switzerland and Austria.