University city. City of culture. Regional capital and tourist destination in the heart of the Alps. Former home of Emperor Maximilian I. This varied list of titles should also include that of city of sport – and rightly so!
Innsbruck, two-times Olympic city (1964 and 1976), offers a range of both summer and winter sports facilities that can barely be matched by any other city of its size anywhere in Europe. Innsbruck is loved by international athletes and sports federations alike as a venue for European and world championships. In the last few years, around €70m have been invested in new sports facilities. Two major events recently held here – the Winteruniversiade and the 2005 World Ice Hockey Championships – were particular highlights and placed Tyrol's regional capital in the global sporting spotlight. These were just a sign of greater things to come!
The city has a population of 130,000, of which 20,000 are students. Around five million visitors enjoy Innsbruck every year. Innsbruck lies exactly 575 metres over sea level in the Inn Valley at the confluence of the River Sill.
The name Innsbruck (first known as Inspruk around 1167) comes from the bridge over the River Inn. The bridge was built for the first time in the middle of the 12th century, and has subsequently become a heraldic symbol on Innsbruck’s official seal and coat of arms. Discoveries and digs have showed that a settlement in the Innsbruck area existed from the Stone Age. The military fort of Veldidena (today the Wilten part of the city) was constructed by the Romans in around 15 BC, where the road from the Brenner region reaches the Inn Valley. The Romans had gathered the central Alpine and Alpine foothill region into the province of Rhaetia.
The emblem of the city is the Golden Roof – a covered alcove balcony with 2,657 firegilded copper shingles. It was constructed under Emperor Maximilian I around 1500 by the court architect Niclas Türig, and is unique for its type in Europe.
Innsbruck as a sporting city has a lot to offer – and not just during the winter months, with its eight ski regions, 75 mountain railway and 270 kilometres of ski runs. In the summer, 27 holes are available for golfers, and there is also mini-golf, tennis courts in outstanding settings, riding, summer skiing on the glacier and Tirol’s largest mountain-walking programme.
An important part of the city landscape is the Bergisel Arena, which was constructed in 1926 as a wooden ski jump facility. It was converted into a ski-jump stadium for the Winter Olymnpic Games in 1964, and the facility was completely renovated ten years later. Since then, it is not only been the third venue for the international Vierschanzen tournament – and therefore an essential component of the ski-jump World Cup at the turn of the year - but also an open-air event venue. The Bergisel Arena gives a splendid view of the city. The opening of the new Tower, with its panoramic café, designed by architect Zaha Hadid, followed in September 2002.
Official links
Innsbruck Tourism
Stadion Tivoli NEU
FC Wacker Tirol
City of Innsbruck
Innsbruck Airport
Innsbruck Public Transport
