Sightseeing in Innsbruck
Innsbruck Old Town
Innsbruck’s historic Old Town offers many sights such as the famous “Goldenes Dachl”, St. James’s Cathedral and the Ottoburg as well as being inviting for a pleasant wonder around. Enjoy coffee and cake in the famous Café Sacher or take advantage of the many other places to shop and the diverse restaurants available! The gothic or baroque house facades as the case may be, date back to between 1500 and 1540.
Innsbruck City Tours
The tour through Innsbruck lasts about 2 hours. Stroll on the trail of the Emperor Maximilian I and allow yourself to admire the many artistic and architectural works that the county capital of Innsbruck has to offer. You can reach Innsbruck from the Schlosshotel Igls with the “J” bus which runs every 15 minutes. Book your city tour with concessionary city guides! Our reception team will gladly provide you with more information.
Goldenes Dachl, Innsbruck (the Golden Roof)
Innsbruck’s famous landmark, the “Goldenes Dachl”, stands in the gothic Old Town. Duke Friedrich IV built the alcove balcony onto the residence for Emperor Maximilian to mark his marriage to Bianca Maria Sforza of Milan. With 2,657 fire-gilded copper shingles, it marked what was then the centre of Europe.
Goldenes Dachl Museum
The “Goldenes Dachl Museum” is housed in the golden roofed building – the memorial for Emperor Maximilian I (1459-1519). The museum has exhibits about Emperor Maximilian I and his era as well as the history of this Innsbruck landmark.
01.10. to 30.04.2010: every day (except Monday) from 10am to 5pm
01.05. to 30.09.2010: every day from 10am to 5pm
Dom St. Jakob (St. James’s Cathedral)
St. James’s Cathedral in Cathedral Square in Innsbruck’s Old Town is an imposing building with two magnificent towers. This Cathedral is among the most beautiful examples of late baroque church architecture and was built between 1717 and 1724. The famous Madonna by Lukas Cranach Sr. rests on the alter and the ceiling frescoes and stucco work are by the Asam brothers.
Innsbruck freedom bell (Carillon) rings out from the cathedral. The tomb of Archduke Maximillian III, a German master, which was built by Casper Gras also resides there and dates back to 1620.
Opening times:
26.10. to 11.05.2010
Weekdays from 7.30am to 6.30pm
Sundays from 8am to 6.30pm
02.05. to 25.10.2010
Weekdays from 7.30am to 7.30pm
Sundays from 8am to 7.30pm
Innsbrucker Hofburg (Innsbruck Imperial Residence)
The Imperial Residence in Innsbruck was once the home of the Tyrolean Sovereign and can now be seen in its renewed glory after a general refurbishment. Until probably the beginning of June 2010, you can visit the following magnificent and recently renovated rooms: the Riesensaal (Giant’s Hall), the Gardesaal (Guard Hall), and the Lothrinder Zimmer (Lothringer Room). The remaining section of the imperial apartment is closed.
History of the Imperial Residence
Archduke Sigmund the ‘coin rich’, Duke of Tyrol, had a middle aged residence built. His successor, Emperor Maximilian I expanded the residence further. It was Maria Theresia (ruler between 1740 and 1780) who transformed it into the style of the Viennese Rococo as it can be seen today.
Open all year
Every day from 9am to 5pm
Admission until 4.30pm
Innsbruck Hofkirche
Innsbruck Hofkirche, with the cenotaph to Emperor Maximilian I, is the grandest imperial cenotaph in Europe and a testament to the European artists who contributed to it including, among others, Albrecht Dürer, Peter Vischer Sr. and Alexander Colin.
History of the monument
Emperor Maximilian I’s fundamental idea was the creation of a political memorial for the Roman-German empire. The diverse memorial comprises of a cenotaph with a figure of the kneeling Emperor and 24 relief pictures of his deeds on the sarcophagus in the middle of the church. In addition, you can also see the 28 of the intended 40 larger-than-life statues of his ancestors here. The Renaissance organ on the right choral wall made by Jörg Ebert of Ravensburg is one of the five most famous organs in the world and is the biggest, nearly pristinely maintained Renaissance organ in Austria.
Opening times:
Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm (until 5.30pm in July and August)
Sundays and public holidays from 12.30-5pm (until 5.30pm in July and August)
Der Sightseer bus
The bus for Innsbruck’s sights! From € 6 for adults and € 4.40 for children, the “Sightseer” operates between Innsbruck’s most famous sights such as the Old Town, the Bergisel and Schloss Ambras (Ambras Castle).
