Most definitely the Altstadt or Old Town - the historic centre of the city. You will never run out of things to see in the Old Town which is filled with narrow houses, beautifully painted facades, handsome doorways, oriel windows, and fine examples of old Tirolean architecture. In fact, you'll be hard pressed for time to 'stand and stare' at the sumptuous display of Renaissance, Baroque and Rococo buildings that reflect Innsbruck's past importance as a ducal residence.
The semi-circular quarter of the Old Town, enclosed by a ring of streets known as the Graben ("Moat") is now a pedestrian precinct making it easy for tourists to go on foot, explore and get lost.
The Goldenes Dachl or Golden Roof located at the t-junction of Herzog-Friedrich-Strasse and Maria-Theresein-Strasse is, indisputably, the most famous building in Innsbruck and the most photographed too. It is the mecca of very visitor to the city.
This magnificent Late Gothic oriel window roofed with 2,657 gilded copper tiles was built in 1494 to commemorate the second marriage of Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I to Bianca Maria Sforza of Milan. Maximilian is known to expand his territory not through conquests but by marriages. Not wishing to alienate the allies gained by his first marriage, to Maria of Burgundy, he had an image of himself between the two women painted on his balcony. For many years, the balcony served as a royal box from which the court could sit in luxury and watched civic festivities in the square below. Today the building houses a museum on the life of Maximilian.
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| The Golden Roof |
Right across from the famous roof, painted in a pretty pink, is the Rococo Helblinghaus named after Sebastian Helbling who operated a small cafe there in 1833. The original Gothic townhouse was purchased by Johann Fischer in 1725 who had the façade decorated with late Baroque plasterwork and front oriels. The ornamental screen façade is highly embellished with sculpture and decorative elements such as lavish acanthus, busts, masks and shells. It is an outstanding example of bourgeois grandeur.
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| Helblinghaus |
The arcaded Herzog-Friedrich-Strasse is lined with handsome burghers' houses including the Goldener Adler Hotel, one of Europe's oldest and time-honoured inns established in the 14th century. A marble panel at the hotel's entrance lists the many famous personalities that have stayed in the hotel in the past including Emperor Joseph II, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and many more. It was from here that the Tirolean patriot, Andreas Hofer, addressed the people in 1809.
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| The legendary Goldener Adler Hotel |
At one end of Herzog-Friedrich-Strasse stands its oldest preserved building, the Ottoburg, a Gothic residential tower built by the city wall in the 15th century. Its gray facade is brightened up by red and white shutters. Although both the purpose and the owners of the building have changed frequently throughout the years, the Ottoburg has long housed an excellent restaurant, the historic Ottoburg which first opened its doors to customers in the year 1745. It serves traditional Tyrolean specialties.
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| The Ottoburg housing complex |
All along Herzong-Friedrich-Strasse and the side streets that fan out from it, are interesting arcaded buildings. The 16th century Trautsonhaus with its reliefs, bay-windows, painted facade and marble fountain is worth mention.
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| One of many fountains in Innsbruck's old town centre |
So are all of these arcaded buildings which, today, house cafes & restaurants, boutiques and specialty shops, hotels & family-run inns.
Standing proud and high above all other buildings in the Aldstadt is the old Stadtturm. Originally built in the 14th century, together with the adjoining Old Rathaus, it serves as a watchtower. Today, many tourists walk up its tower for one of the most beautiful views of Innsbruck and its environs.
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| The Stadtturm towers over the Aldstadt |
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