Innsbruck, Alpine capital in Tyrol, Austria
Innsbruck is a city in Tyrol, Austria, that runs along the Inn River valley at 574 meters (1883 feet) above sea level. To the north, the Nordkette peaks rise above 2000 meters (6562 feet), while gentler slopes close the valley to the south.
In 1420, Duke Frederick IV made the town the capital of Tyrol, turning a small market settlement into a center of Habsburg power. Later it served as residence for Emperor Maximilian I, who lived and ruled here for several years.
Several times a year, locals in traditional dress parade through the old town while brass bands from surrounding valleys play folk tunes. In taverns along Maria-Theresien-Straße, residents gather after work for cards or a beer, often speaking in Tyrolean dialect mixed with standard German.
The main train station sits southwest of the old town, from where buses and trams run to surrounding ski areas and hiking trails. Most attractions in the center are within walking distance and can be explored on foot in about an hour.
The Golden Roof consists of 2657 fire-gilded copper shingles covering a balcony from which Emperor Maximilian I watched tournaments in the square below. The gilding was applied in the early 16th century and has been restored several times, with each shingle reattached individually.
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