Innsbruck

Innsbruck is at the junction of the Inn Valley and the Sill gap, which leads to the Brenner Pass (gateway to Italy). It is the cultural and tourist center of Tyrol and, besides Grenoble (France), the only town of more than 100,000 inhabitants inside the Alpine range. The 1964 Winter Olympics sparked a big development of tourist amenities and sporting facilities. Below you will find photos of the Little Golden Roof (goldenes Dachl) which dates from the reign of Maximilian and symbolises the power of the Habsburgs. The Helblinghaus was given a Rococo facade in the 18th century and,thus, displays lavishly decorated window frames and a highly decorated pediment. In the Hofkirche, you will find Maximilian's mausoleum, perhaps the most important example of German renaissance sculpture. 28 impressive statues (known as "black fellows" by the locals), all but two in bronze and all more than life-size, stand on guard over the empty tomb. Represented here are the royal families of Habsburg, Burgundy and Austria but also curious choices like King Arthur, Theoderic of Verona and Clovis. These statues also have great value as a record of 16th century costumes and adornments.

The Hofkirche also contains the tomb and memorial of Andreas Hofer.