As the Bock beer fest in Germany and the Lenten season comes to an end the much anticipated Easter weekend is upon us. Jeremy and I awoke early on Good Friday and drove south, 3.5 hours from home, great easy drive through Regensburg and Munich. The town of Amberg was quiet when we left, rainy and desolate. We arrived to sunshine and beautiful scenery in Innsbruck. The town is set in a valley surrounded by the Northern Karwendel Alps, highest peak in the range reaching 2,334 meters or 7,657 feet Hafelekarspitze and the Patscherkofel and Serles to the south. Innsbruck is known for its winter sports, hosting the Winter Olympics in 1964, 1976, and 2012 as well as the Paralympics in 1984 and 1988.
Friday we settled in, had a wonderful quick Italian meal at Vapianos- one of our favorites in DC too! Then walked around the city sightseeing. We checked out the Dom St. Jakob. Saturday we woke up early, headed to the tourist information point and purchased the Innsbruck Card for 48 hours for 41 Euro, which is the best and cheapest way to see the city. With the card you have access to the hop on and hop off Sightseer bus, museum and sights entrance, city walking tour, Swarovski Kristallwelten and Crystal woods shuttle, and Up and downhill ride on any of Innsbruck's lifts. We started the day at the Breakfast club, excellent food, english menu, helpful and attentive staff, and fast service. I recommend the french toast or waffles! http://www.breakfast-club.at
Then we hopped on the Sightseer bus to Ambras Castle, Schloss Ambras Innsbruck. A magnificent Renaissance castle surrounded by beautiful well maintained english gardens. It houses the world's oldest museum with armories, chamber of arts and curiosities, Spanish hall, Habsburg portrait gallery, and the Strasser collection of glass. The Archduke Ferdinand II, son of the Emperor Ferdinand I, converted Ambras Castle into a Renaissance palace, with its' famous collections. The Armories contain very rare examples of Emperor Maxmilian I's 15th Century tournament armour, famous 16th Century commanders' armour, and the Archduke's personal armour and weapons from the 30 Years' War. The important Habsburg patron collected valuable, rare, and unique pieces of nature and works of art in the Kunst and Wunderkammer room. The Spanish hall is one of the most important free standing halls of the Renaissance. www.schlossambras-innsbruck.at Although it was not Spring or summer to the outside gardens will still a sight to see and there were four peacocks roaming freely around the park- two males and two females, stunning. The property is massive and outside the garden gates there are many hiking trails with running streams and covered bridges along the winding paths.
Back on the hop on and hop off to the city center, they offer headphones and a tour guide as you travel. We did stop at the Tirol Panoramic and had 15 minute stop to take in the gorgeous panoramic view over the city. We did not have enough time to go into the museum which holds the famous Innsbruck Reisenrundgemalde, giant panoramic painting. This is the base of the Bergisel- Sprungstadion "Cobra" 50 meter high ski jump tower with restaurant with viewing platform, also with many hiking trails from this point.
Once in the city center we walked towards Congress to get on the Innsbrucker Nordkettenbahnen. Gondola, cable car ride to the top of the Alps- Hafelekar, with stops along the way at Seegrube, Hungerburg, Alpine Zoo, Lowerhaus. We first went all the way to the top since the weather was perfect with sunshine and the clouds have lifted above the Alps. We stepped off the gondola feeling the cold breeze in our faces, we bundled up and walked along the snowy path to the stunning lookout points along the icy, slippery, packed down trail. The snow peaked mountains in the distance were breathtaking.
After enough cold and wind we headed down to the next stop- Seegrube, still snow covered at 6,250 feet. The famous Cloud 9 Igloo bar with outdoor DJ and lounge chairs lined up along the terrace. The Seegrube restraunt with indoor/ outdoor setting and gorgeous panoramic views. We grabbed a chair and a beer taking in this moment and enjoying each others' company among many others enjoying the same day. Last stop for us was the Hungerburg located at 2,820 feet the snow was gone and we were able to hike down the paved trail from there. Passing the Alpine Zoo on the way, exotic animals and great setting but it was closed by the time we were headed down.
Dinner date at Ottoburg Restaurant in Old town. Romantic candlelit dinner, excellent food- German/ Austrian. Great historic setting near the Golden Roof. Excellent service, the staff were dressed in Dirndls. I had the deer stew and Jeremy ordered the steak, both delicious. We did try and find live music after dinner- stopping in the Piano Bar and the Pine. No live music, just one drink and then home. Another big day being tourist tomorrow!
Sunday we started by heading on the shuttle towards the Swarovski Crystal located in Wattens, Austria. The chamber of wonders and art in the garden were our highlights. We wished we would have gone through quicker and caught the shuttle back to Innsbruck instead of relaxing for 2 hours while basking in the sunshine waiting for the next shuttle. Definitely worth the trip just do not plan on staying 3 hours, 1 hour would be just fine so plan on the shuttle times.
Heading back to the City center we caught the 1400 City walking tour, which was so crowded and the tour guide does not talk the entire walk just at a few points. We branched off and did our own thing, headed first to the Golden Roof museum- Goldenes Dachl, we could have spent all day in this one museum. We were given audiotour guide and could walk around the museum at your own pace. Exhibitions about Emperor Maxmillian I during his reign and history of the Innsbruck emblem. Right next door the Stadtturm, which was closed over the winter months due to renovations. Normally you can go up the tower with unique views of the city and the mountains. The 15th century tower used to house a prison.
Next stop- Kaiserliche Hofburg. the Imperial palace with 25 imperial rooms from the 18th and 19th centuries with the Giant's Hall. The hall is the most magnificent festival and ceremony hall in the Alpine region. Very classy and elaborate palace with colorful rooms. The furniture and walls are both silk, showing stature and superiority.
Hofkirche, the Court Church houses the tomb of Emperor Maxmillian I and is lined with 28 bronze statues. Very unique church with the tomb right in the center of the church. Worth a visit. Next stop for Jeremy's love of art- Galerie im Taxispalais- Modern Art, international and local contemporary art. After a full day of sightseeing we stopped in for a beer at Tribaun, with a wide variety of local and European craft beers on tap. Very unique setting in a cellar with rustic tables and barstools. Highly suggest stopping in for a drink. We tried #4 Mountain Pale Ale local, #6 Brauschneider IPA local, #10 Framboise Lambik, sweet/ sour beer from Belgium and #15 XXX Weisse from Germany. Address- Museumstrasse 15, 6020 Innsbruck. http://www.tribaun.com/ Dinner that night we had excellent Mexican food and margaritas at La Taqueria. On our way to the restaurant, we stumbled upon the Jesuitenkirche, the Jesuit Church, so sacred and unique indoors.
Monday we had an hour left on our Innsbruck cards so we walked to Stift Wilten, seeing the Kloster Wilten Monastery and hopped on the #6 tram to Igls. 10 minutes from Innsbruck this small ski town has everything one would need for an outdoor adventure weekend. Again, surrounded by Alps. This time a clear view of the Patcherkofel Olympic Alps. During the summer months of July and August you can take the cable car up to the top of the Olympic Alps and hike from hut to hut along the stone pine circuit. Since this was closed we hiked from Igls back to Innsbruck which was amazing in itself. 5.7 km roughly if headed in a straight line but we ventured off the course and took a path back towards the Ambras Castle since we did not have time to walk around the surrounding gardens. We then ate a late lunch at L'Osteria before heading back to Germany.
Incredible weekend getaway with drastic changes in scenery only a few hours away. We loved it and hope to come back, but we do have a long list of other places to visit first. When we are back we hope to check out Ludwig, burger restaurant, it was closed on the holiday weekend and the Olympic Alps up to Patscherkofelbahnen in the summertime.
