Innsbruck is one of the most significant cities of Austria. Find out what makes the city so special as we take a look at its history and culture.
Innsbruck is one of the most significant places in Austria. It exists as the capital city of the federal state of Tyrol. Innsbruck is situated in the Inn Valley right at the junction of the Wipptal Still River which is actually a passage way to Brenner Pass 30 km south of Innsbruck. Tucked deep inside the broad valley, Innsbruck stands surrounded by high mountains on both sides.
The city is internationally famous for being a world renowned center for winter sports. It has had the honor of hosting the Winter Olympics games twice in history once in 1964 and again in 1976. Interestingly the city gets its name from the word brucke which is of German origin. It means bridge and hence the name translates to mean the bridge over the Inn.
The region has been occupied by man from the very beginning as traces suggest it was inhabited even during the early Stone Age. There are many ancient Pre-Roman structures that still stand as witness to the age old inhabitants of Innsbruck which seems to have been continuously occupied through the ages.
It was in the fourth century that the Romans established their army station at the place where Innsbruck is situated today. It was purposely transformed into an army station due to its strategic importance. The Romans wanted to secure the region so that they could protect the economically significant commercial road networks spurring from the region.
The name of the city is recorded as being used as early as 1187. It was named so because it was an important crossing point over the Inn as it served as a bridge. The city has its own version of the coat of arms. In it you will be able to see a bird’s eye view of the Inn Bridge.
The region was the easiest route through the Alps and served as a major transport communications link between the northern and southern regions. In fact it was due to its strategic placement that enabled the region to generate large amounts of revenue which eventually transformed it into a full fledge flourishing city.
It was in 1429 that Innsbruck became the capital city of Tyrol. In the 15th century the region gained even more significance as it became the center for European politics and culture. It was Emperor Maximilian I who moved the imperial court to the region in the mid 15th century. Innsbruck has also suffered severe bruises during the two great wars.
The games people play
Innsbruck hosted the first ever Austrian Chess Championship in 1929. Winter skiing and mountain climbing are very popular in Innsbruck due to the presence of wondrous mountains. The city has developed a decent infrastructure with several ski resorts, cable cars and chair lift services. Winter season sees a lot of sporting events being held in the region. The Air and style snowboard contest, ice hockey and football are amongst the other sporting events that the people of Innsbruck participate in.
