Innsbruck, Austria

There are plenty of advantages in finding a place to stay in Innsbruck's Old Town; the medieval charm and proximity to the major sightseeing attractions, shops and places to eat out are but a few. Of course, most of the hotels right in the center are comparably expensive, but are by the same token all high-quality establishments.

Inner City

The Goldene Adler, for instance, is as traditional as it is prestigious. The Weiße Rössl on the Vier-Viecher-Eck is similarly important in terms of its long history. In the Old Town's outer walls, several modern establishments find their home: Hotel Innsbruck or the Maximilian. Hotel Weinhaus Happ is worth mentioning as a relatively inexpensive alternative, to be found right in the heart of old Innsbruck.

Numerous five and four-star establishments are clustered on the edges of the pedestrian precinct, just a few minutes' walk away from the Old Town. The "Europa Tyrol is an example of such a hotel, reputedly at the top of the range in Innsbruck's hotel trade. Another similarly comfortable hotel is the Hoilday Inn (which also hosts the local casino) whilst the art nouveau Neue Post is well known for its aesthetics. The three-and four-star establishments Schwarzer Adler, Grauer Bär and Mondschein are all located in buildings no less than half a century old. Innsbruck's main boulevard, Maria-Theresien-Straße, presents many a possibility of finding a bed for the night. One of them is the well-known Breinössl.

Both the Goldene Krone and Delevo are located on Maria-Theresien-Straße and manage to maintain moderate prices. Another inexpensive centrally-located place to stay is the bed-and-breakfast hotel Royal. Last but not least, Gasthof Innbrücke stands out from the rest; this inn offers plain, pleasant rooms in a perfect location and proves a really good bargain.

Innsbruck is not that large a city, and a location a little off center, maybe even towards the borders, does not mean it will take you hours to get into the Old Town. There are few points in the city from which you couldn't get into the center in less than twenty minutes using public transport. These more out-of-the-way locations are attractive for their more moderate charges and the fact that their neighborhoods are mostly very quiet.

Amras & Pradl

This is the case with the southern district of Amras, formerly an autonomous village retaining much of its rustic character. One of Innsbruck's oldest family establishments is located here, namely the Bierwirt, also well known for its excellent cuisine. Other options include the Kapeller Hotel, one of Innsbruck's top restaurant addresses, or the bed-and-breakfast hotel Charlotte, with its good service and fair charges.

The large district of Pradl, a little further north although closer to the center, boasts comfortable hotels such as the Leipziger Hof (next to Rapoldi Park) and Hotel Alt-Pradl near Sill River. But there are also numerous moderate and inexpensive pensions; of these, the Goldene Winkel is especially picturesque, while Binder's is noteworthy for its great service and proves a very good bargain.

Hötting & Igls

Hötting is another of Innsbruck's northern districts characterized by village-like charm. Rather hidden away, the charming turrets-and-oriels hotel Tautermann does very brisk business. Still further to the north, Gasthof Ölberg offers great rooms at moderate prices in green, quiet surroundings.

The southern district of Igls is just as rural and almost as quiet, but the hotels up here are considerably more geared towards tourists. In winter, the nearby Patscherkofelbahn bottom station is in operation, and in summer, the mountains offer ample opportunity for hiking or mountain-biking and the local golf club is open. The distinguished, romantic Sporthotel is an extraordinarily comfortable five-star establishment. Another still more refined choice, seemingly robbed from a fairy-tale, is Schlosshotel Igls, housed in a small castle.

Pensions & Hostels

Generally speaking, the many pensions and inns in and around the city are the cheapest overnight stays. Gasthof Dollinger, close to the Hungerburgbahn bottom station, is just one example. Still more inexpensive are the summer hotels, mostly serving as student hostels during the rest of the year. For people who are looking for a cheap bed for the night and are prepared to skimp a little on comfort, Rössl in der Au is the place to be. Situated close to the center, it is one of the neatest of its kind. For the serious budget traveler, youth hostels remain the best value; among them St. Nikolaus and Paulus hostels are most noted for their informal, charming character.

The Inn river valley's advantageous geographical position made it a natural choice for early settlers. During the Bronze Age, Illyrians populated the valley areas that proved safe areas from the threat of flooding. Remnants of Illyrian urns can be found in the districts of Wilten, Hötting and Mühlau, whilst artefacts originating from an Illyrian settlement were unearthed on the hill at Vill. Numerous districts of present-day Innsbruck bear names derived from those of the ancient settlements, such as Aldrans, Lans, Igls and Vill.

Around 15 BC the Roman Empire expanded forcefully northwards, annexing the central alpine region approaching the Danube. The area around Innsbruck thus became a transit route of key strategic importance for Roman soldiers. A community soon sprang up around the fortified outpost of Veldidena (present-day Wilten), which guarded the approach to the Brenner Pass.

The Bavarians migrated to the Inn valley from the north during the second half of the 6th Century CE. As a result, this area became part of the Bavarian hereditary Duchy. The German Emperor denied the Bavarian dukes control of this strategic area—then still referred to simply as "the land in the mountains" and handed it over to the Bishops of Brixen instead. Above all, it was the Counts of Andechs and their feudal lords who brought autonomy and political power to the alpine valleys of Tyrol. Indeed, the counts became the most important territorial rulers in the land. As a result, Innsbruck quickly became the center of Andechs rule.

The Andechs established a market place in 1180 downstream from the district of Hötting. The first recorded mention of the name "Innsprucke" dates back to 1187. Innsbruck was granted city status in 1239. The name of the city is derived from the original meaning "bridge over the Inn." This bridge was a key factor in the development of trade and the movement of goods between regions both north and south of the Alps. The counts of Andechs built a fortress opposite the present-day Ottoburg in order to protect the settlement.

In 1248, Count Albert III gained control of Tyrol along with Innsbruck. This heralded the unification of the counties around the Brenner Pass. The year 1248 has therefore gone down as 'the year of Tyrol's birth' in Tyrolean historiography. Duke Friedrich IV built the impressive ducal residence of Schloss Tirol at Meran. Innsbruck became the capital of all Tyrol in 1429. The 15th and 16th Centuries were Innsbruck's golden years. Emperor Maximilian I fashioned the city into a booming financial, cultural and administrative center. His crowning achievement was the construction of the Goldene Dachl, a splendid Renaissance relief with gilded copper shingles. As Innsbruck's most famous landmark, the Goldene Dachl is responsible for attracting countless tourists to the city every year. Between the 16th and 18th Centuries, Innsbruck's architectural style was heavily influenced by the Türing and Gumpp dynasties.

In 1665, the Tyrol line of the Habsburgs died out. Nevertheless, Empress Maria Theresia helped the city to retain its splendor by building the Hofburg and the Triumphpforte.

The peace treaty of Pressburg, sealing Napoleon's conquest of Austria in 1805, decreed that Austria cede the provinces of Brixen, Trient and Tyrol to Bavaria. Only after the wars of liberation, fought on the Berg Isel, was Innsbruck freed from Bavarian rule. Andreas Hofer, the Tyrolean folk hero who led his forces to victory on the Berg Isel, proceeded to make Innsbruck the center of his administration. His enemies, however, struck back: a combined French and Bavarian force attacked and overran Innsbruck in 1809. Tyrol remained under Bavarian rule until 1814, when it was handed back to Austria at the Congress of Vienna.

Innsbruck was to regain significance beyond its immediate provinces in the latter part of the 19th Century with the onset of the industrial revolution and the spread of mass communications and transport. The opening of the railway through the Brenner Pass in 1884 was instrumental in forging Innsbruck as an axis of the European transport networks, linking north and south as well as east and west. During the Second World War, Innsbruck suffered massive damage from air attacks. The Winter Olympic Games first took place in the city in 1964. This regular event has played a major role in Innsbruck's post-war growth and has led to the construction of some of the world's finest sporting facilities. The Olympia Eisstadion, for example, has played host to competitions in high-speed ice-skating, figure skating and ice hockey.