The province of Tyrol is located in the western part of Austria . The neighbors of this province are the countries of Germany , Italy and Switzerland , the Austrian provinces of Salzburg , Carinthia and Vorarlberg . The length of Tyrol from west to east is 210 kilometers, and from north to south – 110 kilometers.
The beauty of Tyrol will conquer any person, it is not for nothing that it is called the ” Heart of the Alps “. Lovers of active recreation can go skiing here in the winter, and go hiking in the summer. The province is also beautiful because here you can simply relax in the fresh air near a mountain stream, gain strength and immerse yourself in an unforgettable world of harmony.
Tyrol is rich in history and culture. Kaisers, patrons who helped artists, composers, and architects lived here.
In the capital of Tyrol – Innsbruck, you can see the Hovburg Imperial Palace , the Triumphal Arch , and the Hovkirche court church . Innsbruck is considered a legend of alpine skiing, since the Olympic Games were held twice in this city. There is also a town called Wattens in the province , where the museum ” Crystal Worlds of Swarovski ” is located, located in a cave that is a labyrinth. In this museum, Salvador Dali’s ” flowing clock ” will be admired by everyone , and the crystal crystal will shock you with its size, it is considered the largest in the world.
All regions of Tyrol differ among themselves in the traditions of the people, their way of life, dialects. But still, the people in this province are very cheerful, hospitable, coziness and sports prevail everywhere.
Tyrol is famous for its extremely beautiful lakes and national parks, which are located among the glaciers and valleys of the Alpine mountains.
If we talk about lakes, the largest is Lake Achensee , surrounded by the Rofan and Karwendel mountains , and Lake Tristacher See , located in East Tyrol in the area of the Dolomite Mountains. You can enjoy swimming in lakes Walchsee , Schwarzsee , and Pillersee .
High Tauern National Park
The center of the High Tauern Park amazes with its waterfalls, flora, fauna, glaciers and valleys of the Alpine mountains. Once you get to the park, you will never want to leave this magical place. The area of the High Tower is 1187 square meters. km, it will take a long time to go around it. Excursions are organized to the park, where you can enjoy all its charms, look at amazing plants and animals, go on a hike in the mountains, take part in various programs held in the park and much more.
How to ride in the most pathetic resort of Tyrol and not go broke
Even forty years ago, these places were known only to climbers and mountain tourists. Snowy, but not too harsh winters, a convenient transport location combined with the pragmatism of local residents turned Ischgl from an ordinary Tyrolean village into one of the most glamorous ski resorts not only in Austria , but also in Europe . On the central street of Ischgl , shining with shop windows of pathetic boutiques and night clubs, you can often meet the characteristic heroine of anecdotes about blondes – with a Yorkshire terrier and expensive, almost with rhinestones and snake skin, skis under her arm. And on the stage, mounted high in the mountains above the city, concerts of world pop stars are constantly held.
But Ischgl should not be perceived exclusively as a vanity fair. A well-thought-out approach to the matter and knowledge of some subtleties will allow lovers of mountain skiing to correctly form a budget for the trip and for an acceptable amount to take your breath away on hundreds of kilometers of well-maintained trails in the heart of Tyrol .
A walk in the valley, or we will decide on the area
The name of the Austrian state of Tyrol with its capital in Innsbruck has long been synonymous with the word Alps. The region borders three countries: Italy, Germany and Switzerland. Here, on the border with the latter, separated from it by the Samnaun and Silvretta ridges (these words constantly flash in tourist advertisements and on signs), lies the Patznaun valley , in which the town of Ischgl is located . And at a distance of several tens of kilometers – several more villages. Residents in Ischgl itself are only a couple of thousand, in other villages – several hundred. At the same time, according to the director of the Ischgl Tourism CouncilAndreas Steibl, only near this town on a winter’s day up to 15 thousand people are on the slopes at the same time.
In the case of Austria, there is no need to list the number of slopes and lifts. What is there to talk about, if the length of the trails in Patznaun is hundreds of kilometers, and there are dozens of lifts. And new ones are built every year.
Ischgl
The main skiing area in the Patznaun valley is located above its “capital”. Several gondola lifts take skiers there from Ischgl . Their lower stations go directly to the central street of the city. Along the way, cabins-gondola crawl over gorges covered with huge fir trees. Finally, they reach a flat area surrounded by sharp peaks – the Idalp plateau at an altitude of 2300 m. The huge number of chairlifts diverging even higher is impressive. Armchairs floating in the air most resemble a swarm of insects.
Only when you are there, you realize why, along with the Sky Pass (lift pass), they persistently offer a map of the slopes and lifts. Indeed, a good skier, without understanding, can get so far that then he has to return to the last flights of lifts almost at a run. Moreover, having become fond of skiing, you can imperceptibly jump over a mountain range and find yourself already in Switzerland – in the Samnaun valley .
Near Ischgl is the famous track – Eleven (“eleven”). On it, starting from the Idalp plateau and covering 11 km, you can stop already on the central street.
Cappl
The village is almost at the exit from the valley. Lifts take skiers up to an altitude of 2,700 m. Somewhere at an altitude of 2,000 m there is a small ski park for the little ones. Thanks to it and the small size of the village below, Kappl looks family-friendly and quiet. Although the slopes in the upper part of the ridge are quite significant.
Galtyur
A village in the upper reaches of the valley. Here the nature is more severe – there are fewer forests: the highlands are indicated. The “feature” of this skiing area was a large children’s ski school. The village also has freeride areas for lovers of skiing on the snowy wilderness on the slopes under the mountain peaks .
How to reduce costs
Residence
“Don’t focus on the hotel’s “stars”. If you think that by paying for a 4* room in Tyrol , you will get almost five-star service, but a little cheaper – it is not so. Almost all 4* hotels are actually high-quality 3* hotels. If “stars” are not important to you, then before making an order, write down the accommodation parameters (hotel address, square footage and room equipment) and study the nearby hotels with lower “star rating”. It may turn out to be better and one and a half times cheaper. Some hotels already include sky-passes in the price of accommodation. So it turns out to be 1-2 euros cheaper per day.
If you are traveling with a group of 4-5 people, it makes sense to try to find an apartment in the town. It can cost only 500-800 euros per week.
Journey
If a company is going, rent one car from the airport in advance by ordering it online. The key word is “in advance” – so the car will cost about 30 euros / day (compare with 100-120 euros / day, if you take the car on the spot). If you need a car only to get to the hotel, take it for a day, drive to the place, get some sleep, and the next morning drive the car to the nearest return point, returning by bus (€7-10). By the way, gasoline costs from Munich to the ski regions of Tyrol– about 75 euros. Similarly, you can organize a transfer in the opposite direction. As a result, instead of 300-600 euros, 150-300 will be obtained. It all depends on the desire to save. But don’t be stingy and spend on the toll highway (10 euros for 10 days). There is a free car ride option, but it is extremely inconvenient.
Let’s talk about public transport. If you are not yet 26 years old or you are already a pensioner with a certificate, you can buy a discounted student or pension card at the train station. It gives a 50% discount on travel and costs about 20 euros. Imagine the savings at least on the example of moving to Landek , which costs 60 euros one way.
If you do not have a car and want to ride in other resorts, then find out if there are free sky-buses there. For example, if you live in the Patznaun valley , you can travel for free on a sky pass between all settlements and ski areas – Ischglem , Kapplem , Zee , Landekom ( Fenet resort ).
Sky pass
It is better to use the “6 days out of 10” or “4 days out of 7” program for almost the entire time of skiing. Such a sky pass allows you to take a break of 1-2 days whenever you want, without losing money.
Food
If you have the opportunity to cook yourself, then for 100 euros for two people, you can easily live for a week. Buying products is most profitable in the Hofer supermarket chain (in Germany it is called ALDI). If there is no such store nearby, then most likely you will find Billa or Spar supermarkets , which are a little more expensive. However, all these options are economical).
Equipment
Do not succumb to the magic of numbers in sports stores. Clothing and other trinkets for mountain skiing in the season (from the end of November to April) are incredibly expensive, discount days at this time are a rarity. But if you don’t mind the used “equipment”, then you can negotiate in the rental car – it will be significantly cheaper than a similar new model (up to 70%).
How to get there
The axis of all Tyrol is the river Inn . It originates in Switzerland , crosses all of Austria and flows into the Danube already on the territory of Germany . The wide Inna valley is the main transport artery of the land, along it, airliners take off and land in ” Kranebitten ” – the main airport of Tyrol .
The usual scheme of a flight from Kyiv to Innsbruck involves a transfer in Vienna and currently costs $550-600. But every year with the beginning of the winter season, the national air carrier of Austria opens a direct connection between Kyiv and Innsbruck . As the representatives of the airline explained, the direct flight from Kyiv will be operated every Saturday from December 28 to March 8 and will cost UAH 2,950 (about $360). The second flight option is through the airport in the German city of Memmingen , which is located near Munich (200 km from Ischgl). It is attractive because a well-known Ukrainian low-cost airline flies there 3-4 times a week. The price of tickets (for January) is only $135-200. And for February-March – even cheaper.
There are different ways to get to Patznaun from the airports . Simple and expensive – by taxi. It will cost about 120 euros on the Innsbruck-Ischgl route and 180-200 euros if you go from Memmingen . A more exhausting, but less costly option is the train and bus. From Munich to Landeck (the closest train station to Ischgl ) the fare is 60 euros. If you fly to Innsbruck , a train ticket to Landeck will cost 15 euros. And from Landeck to Ischgl we go by bus (€7).
Rest in the mountains of Tyrol
Despite its leading role in the field of skiing holidays and its 200-year history of tourism, Tyrol continues to create more and more unique opportunities for tourists for a carefree vacation. More than 100 ski centers and almost 5,200 kilometers of tracks of all levels of difficulty await skiers next winter.
In the coming ski season, the popular resorts of the Austrian Tyrol will offer many novelties to fans of winter recreation.
Yes, after the reconstruction, several new cable cars will be opened at once. One of them is the Hygiohbahn in Sölden , claiming the world record. This single-rope suspension road, leading to a height of 2,283 meters, has become a real architectural masterpiece, as well as an outstanding technical achievement: the capacity of the road is 4,500 people / hour. Skiing has already started in Sölden – the height of the snow cover is about a meter.
Another new cable car, the Flexenbahn , built in Arlberg , together with the new Trittkopfbahn lift systems , will connect St. Anton and Zürs . Thanks to this, skiers can enjoy the largest combined ski resort in Austria with a length of 305 kilometers with dedicated slopes, 87 lifts and ski lifts.
Built in the summer of 2016, the snowmaking system on the Kitzbüheler Horn slope in the Kitzbühel resort guarantees skiing at an altitude of 1,996 meters for children, young people and family groups. The tracks throughout the KitsSky resort are carefully prepared for the season, and more than a thousand snow cannons are also on standby.
In turn, the Zillertal offers skiers and snowboarders 508 kilometers of excellently prepared pistes with a wide selection of slopes for every level of training. The only Zillertal Super-Caypass is an all-inclusive card that covers 179 ski lifts.
The biggest advantage of Tyrol is the large scale of ski resorts and the variety of their possibilities. As a rule, ski areas start at an altitude of 2,000 meters and reach the mark of 3,250 meters, which guarantees the availability of snow for the entire winter season and for the whole family, since there are also areas for beginners and children at high-altitude ski resorts.
The largest skiing area has opened in the Austrian Tyrol
After ten years of negotiations, four Austrian ski resorts have united the slopes, forming the largest skiing area in the country. This became possible thanks to the construction of the TyroIS lift , which connected Leogang , Saalbach-Hinterglemm and Fieberbrunn and enabled the free movement of tourists to the neighboring slopes. The total length of the tracks after the merger of the resorts exceeded 270 kilometers.
The new gondola-type lift has expanded the possibilities of snowboarders from Leogang and Saalbach-Hinterglemm , who will be able to engage in freeriding on new, previously inaccessible slopes. For those who do not want to overpay for accommodation, it is better to settle in economical Fiberbrunn and ski from the slopes of nearby resorts.
Sölden: the hotspot of the Alps
Arriving in Sölden, you will discover endless trails with a total length of 145 kilometers, breathtaking panoramas of 250,000 meters, leisurely walks along the shopping street of Sölden , as well as culinary masterpieces of Tyrolean cuisine. So, gourmets are in a hurry to be pleased with the gourmet restaurant “ICE Q”, opened in December 2013 , at an altitude of 3,048 m, and for skiers, the Rettenbachferner and Tiefenbachferner glacier tracks have been operating since September. From November 22, the opening of the ski season on all slopes is planned. Traditionally, this event will be accompanied by numerous events, including the Electric Mountain festival and the avant-garde performance Hannibal on the natural stageRettenbach glacier .
Zillertal: tracks and mountain inns
Perfectly prepared slopes with a skiing area of 489 km can be bypassed on the “Zillertal Super-Caypass” . Whether you are a beginner or a professional skier, guaranteed snow up to 3,250 meters promises unforgettable pleasure for absolutely everyone. These are wide and long slopes, descents for carving, “harakiri” on the steepest slope in Austria at the resort of Mayrhofen .
Mayrhofen is located in the valley of the Ziller River . It is the third largest town in Tyrol , which is famous for its ski resorts. The Zillertal valley has tracks for every taste. And for those who are just starting to ski, it doesn’t matter whether they are adults or children – for example, in the Ahorn area . And for those who are more or less confident in their abilities – in Penken . And for aces – on the Hintertux glacier . It is here that one of the most difficult black tracks in Europe is located. And it is from here that the most exciting videos get to the top of YouTube. Snowboarders also have a place to roam. Burton Park Mayrhofen is open for them, where there are also zones for professionals, amateurs, and beginners: half-pipe, rails, springboards.
The choice of hotels is also diverse: from fashionable five-star hotels to high-quality three-star hotels. For a family vacation, for example, you can choose the Neuhaus hotel . A warm homely atmosphere, a beautiful kitchen, a small cinema hall, a jacuzzi, a sauna, bowling and billiards.
The resort is famous for its apres-ski parties. One of the iconic places is “Eisbaren” , which is right at the lower station of the gondola lift to Penken . They easily come here in ski boots, as they say, from the ship to the ball. “Schlüsselalm” is more suitable for the public , where you can sit quietly and discuss your sporting successes over a glass of mulled wine.
There are also outdoor ice rinks, indoor tennis courts and squash courts, as well as an arena where you can ride horses.
Moreover, Zillertal promises real pleasure from visiting mountain inns. And numerous WIFI points make it possible to share impressions with friends and those who stayed at home.
Kitzbühel: the legend of skiing holidays
Kitzbühel is an alpine city of sports and recreation, which gained its fame thanks to the mystical slope of the Hanenki Mountains (from the German Rooster Ridge ), where the ski races of the same name are held annually. Along with designer boutiques and authentic Tyrolean establishments , Kitzbühel continues to write its history in the city’s old streets, on fantastic ski slopes and in excellent restaurants, awarded a total of 18 culinary “caps”. Attracting celebrities from all over the world, this place exudes tradition and innovation at the same time. World-class events such as the Snow Polo World Cup or a classical concert with the participation of opera diva Elina Haranc make Kitzbühel a holiday destination for the best.
Ski resort St. Johann in Tirol
The ski resort of St. Johann in Tirol is a great place for winter leisure. The beautiful and hospitable town is comfortably located on the edge of a picturesque valley between the slopes. Ski tracks have a total length of up to 80 kilometers and are characterized by permanent snow cover. There are well-equipped lifts that transport travelers.
The resort is an excellent choice for recreation for the whole family, as well as for beginner skiers. Wide and comfortable routes for training, as well as steep descents – will suit any taste of visitors. The resort also has cross-country skiing tracks, several toboggan runs, carving tracks and a snowboard park.
The infrastructure of the resort is very diverse. Guests have the opportunity to visit swimming pools, saunas, and wellness centers. And for lovers of noisy fun and bright impressions, discos, fashionable clubs, various restaurants and bars are always open.
A pleasant and unforgettable vacation for skiers and lovers of active pastime in the winter season will be provided by the wonderful resort of St. Johann in Tirol.
The Stubaital Valley: competence and diversity
Stubaital will make your wildest vacation dreams come true. Its location near Innsbruck alone and easy transport accessibility make this place ideal for a vacation. Winter sports deserve much more attention at the resort. Four main ski resorts of the valley are at guests’ disposal: the Stubai Glacier , the “Schlick 2000” Ski Center , the Serlesbahnen Mieders and the Elferlifte Neustift cable cars with a program for skiers, snowboarders, freeriders and sledders. Perfectly prepared tracks with guaranteed snow from October to June and a wide selection of offers will make your vacation unforgettable.
After skiing: what to do in Tyrol
Spend the night in an ice hotel on the top
On the slope of Mount Ahorn , at an altitude of two thousand meters, the hotel is open in this real icy corner. Do not be afraid that it will be cold – warm blankets and sleeping bags are waiting for you in the hotel. You can stay in the corner both as a couple (wrapping up in one sleeping bag is a real romance!), and as four – it’s more fun and warmer together. Those who are not ready for the extreme can simply spend time with friends in the ice bar: drink a cocktail and admire the views.
The road from Ahorn to the village of Mayrhofen will take only a few minutes – all thanks to the new lifts.
Feel the spirit of Christmas
You’ve probably sung (or at least heard it sung) Silent Night, Holy Night. But you hardly know that this world-famous Christmas motif was born in Zillertal , and its author is Myrna Strasser . Now, in the house of the Strasser family near the village of Hippach, you can have dinner, drink coffee and cake, sing all the Christmas carols and listen to amazing family stories.
Bake bread
In a Tyrolean house, you will be taught how to bake bread with your own hands in a traditional oven. While the bread is baking, you can take a walk under the stars, pretending to be Tolkien’s heroes on a long and dangerous journey.
Try all varieties of local beer
In addition to traditional varieties: light beer (Zwickl), dark beer (Dunkel) and wheat beer (Weißbier), the Zillertal brewery produces something unusual. A bottle of local beer resembles sparkling wine, and you can try it only in the best restaurants of the valley. For example, “sparkling beer” is served in Sieghard ( Hippach village ). The restaurant has two “caps” of the guide Go-Millot, the main competitor of Michelin.
Teach a “non-skiing” friend to ride
Zillertal has many slopes for both beginners and experienced skiers. First of all, the valley is suitable for those who are already confident on skis, but if you and your friends are just starting your way into alpine skiing, it’s okay. Several ski schools are open for them in Mayrhofen, and you can ski without fear on the gentle slopes of Ahorn .
Survive after Harakiri
And for those who have already mastered all ski tracks, there is Harakiri – the most dangerous track in Austria . The slope is 78% (although from the side it seems that all 90). If you decide to try, the main thing is not to watch videos, which are full of videos on the Internet, where skiers repeatedly fail on the treacherous slope.
Go shopping
Mayrhofen is not only the center of skiing, but also the center of shopping. First of all, you should buy sports clothes and equipment here. You can buy a jacket, pants, protection for skiing on the spot, if you don’t want to bring your own – the selection here is much better than in stores in Kyiv and Lviv.
Lake Aachen is the pearl of the Tyrolean Alps
Every traveler probably knows the long way to Italy through the Brenner Pass , but few people are especially pleased with this trip to the sunny beaches and Lake Garda . Therefore, it is good to find a point about halfway in the foothills of the Alps , and Lake Aachen is just such a border. About 80 km from Innsbruck on the international highway A12 there is an exit near the town of Wiesing , this is the same exit when you go skiing in the Zillertal valley . But we will go in the opposite direction to the north, where the winding path up to the mountain saddle begins, from where a narrow strip of lake is visible, sandwiched between the steep mountain giants Rofan andKarwendel . A unique sight awaits you – the turquoise shades of the crystal waters of this alpine treasure.
Despite its relative proximity – no more than 10 kilometers on the main tourist route, this corner of Austria remains a little far from the main mass of tourists. In its location and profile, Lake Aachen is probably most reminiscent of the northern fjords, only swimming here is more pleasant, if you take into account the fact that the water here supposedly reaches the quality of drinking water.
Lake Aachen is chosen by those who are not particularly keen on active recreation, although there are several ski resorts here, such as Pertisau , Maurach , Achenkirch , Steinberg or Wiesing , which together form a small but complex ski area for less demanding skiers, at whose disposal 60 km of prepared trails.
Lovers of relaxing, swimming, mountain tourism, and especially cross-country sports in winter will also find something here, with more than 200 km of white tracks at their service. Tourist signs, pointers and drawings of the routes are marked everywhere with such accuracy that it is practically impossible to get lost here, and if you do, you will definitely find another unforgettable view of the lake and its surroundings on your way.
A popular activity is a trip on the steamer St. Joseph, the history of which dates back to Emperor Franz Joseph I or Maximilian I, who made Lake Aachen their favorite vacation spot. A unique seven-kilometer cogwheel railway leads from the village to Lake Jenbach , which climbs 440 meters!
If you’re just passing through, or you’re stopping on your way to the south, it might be enough for you to spend the night at one of the local campsites. We recommend the Achensee Schwarzenau campsite on the eastern shore, approximately in the middle of the lake. Prices are the same as in the rest of the Alps, ie around 25-29 euros for two people, tent and car.
Tyrolean cuisine
The cuisine of the land of Tyrol is quite simple, since in past centuries the Tyroleans were poor peasants with farms in the alpine meadows.
Therefore, many dishes are based on dairy products: they contain milk, cheese, as well as flour and lard. In addition, you should try local schnapps, cheeses, various types of ham and sausages.
As the Tyrolean proverb says:
“Noodles, dumplings, dumplings and polenta – these are four Tyrolean elements”
Kn ö del
Naturally, the influence of Germany, so knedel (dumplings) is a traditional side dish and an independent dish:
Speckknödel – dumplings with pieces of bacon. It is usually served with soup.
Spinatknödel – dumplings with spinach.
Eiterbeule
Eiterbeule – literally translates as “boiled”. This is a chop with a filling of cheese, sausage and mustard.
Tyrolean Graukäse
Tiroler Graukäse – Tyrolean gray cheese. With a strong aroma, from cow’s milk, gray color. Produced in Zillertal. The gray color is due to mold. Very low fat content – about 0.5%.
Tiroler Gröstl
Tiroler Gröstl is a traditional roast made of boiled potatoes with chopped beef or pork, with chopped onions, fried in lard in a pan. Seasoned with salt, pepper, marjoram and parsley. Usually served with scrambled eggs on top.
Schlutzkrapfen
Schlutzkrapfen, or Schlutzer for short, is a traditional pasta dish reminiscent of Italian ravioli, which is why they are sometimes called ravioli tirolesi. Usually walnut-sized ravioli are made from a mixture of rye and wheat flour. The filling is made from veal or beef with potatoes, often spinach in South Tyrol . There are also options with onion, nutmeg and egg. In East Tyrol, a popular option with turnips, bacon and potatoes is Schlipfkrapfen.
Kiachl
Kiachl is a popular dessert in Bavaria , Tyrol , and Swabia . The thinnest fritters fried in lard. They are made from yeast dough, sometimes with raisins, fried in oil. Serve sprinkled with powdered sugar.
Prügelkrapfen
Prügelkrapfen is an analogue of the German baumküchen. A wooden roller is dipped in the liquid dough, browned, then dipped again in the dough and browned again and so several times. As a result, a structure of tree rings is obtained on the medium.
Strudel
Apple strudel with vanilla sauce is the most popular dessert in this region. It is made from puff pastry with a filling of apples with sugar and cinnamon.
Theresienbräu
Theresienbräu – local beer.
Real delicacies from Tyrol
Mountain cheeses from cow’s milk
- Hard mountain cheese “Tyrolean Parmesan” aged 20 months (Bergkäse 20 monate), produced in Galtür. It is usually used in grated form, for example, served with pasta.
- Hard mountain cheese aged 10 months. Served thinly sliced with “hay jelly”.
- Hard Alpine high-altitude cheese, produced in Galtyur.
- Soft Alpine cheese with mold “Galtyur Camembert”, produced in Galtyur. Served thinly sliced with “hay jelly”.
- Gray cheese produced in the Patznaun Valley.
Meat delicacies
- Lean beef, dried in the fresh air, produced in Tyrol.
- Cured brisket, produced in Tyrol.
- Meat products of the “Handl” company are vacuum-packed sausages and brisket.
- Gift set of “Handl” meat products.
- Dried Tyrolean venison sausages.
You can try any meat that is not vacuum packed.
Schnapps from the Patsnaun valley (high-grade alcoholic beverages)
- Noble schnapps of the highest purity produced by MAAS.
- Schnapps tinctures with fruit and berry flavors “Baumann Schnaps”
- Gift Galtür schnapps “Galtür Schnaps”.
Most schnapps can be tried before buying. Please do not abuse.
Alpine honey and homemade jam from Galtyur:
- “Bergheu Gelee” hay jam (served with sliced cheese).
- Cranberry Jam “Preiselbeeren Gelee”. It is often served with meat.
- Alpine honey from Tyrol “Alpen Honig”.
Also on sale are various hand-made souvenirs of Galtyur production with the inscription “Galtyur”.
Travel with taste – South Tyrol
A masterful combination of Tyrolean and Mediterranean cooking makes this kitchen simple and sophisticated at the same time. On the one hand, lard, smoked meats, semolina and corn grits. On the other hand, fragrant herbs, sun-dried tomatoes and noble olive oil. Probably nowhere else in the world do classic pizza and authentic dumplings coexist on the same table as harmoniously as in South Tyrol .
We suggest starting with dumplings. As it turned out, this dish is number one here. Dumpling in various interpretations roams the entire menu – first it is found in soup, then it is offered as a main course with sauerkraut, potatoes and meat, and then as a dessert – with apricot (marilenknedel) or plum (svetchkenknedel) fillings .
We liked the soup version better. There, the dumpling consists of a mixture of lard and white bread. We mean, of course, not lard, but lean smoked ham – another example of culinary borrowing in the Tyrolean way. The closest to bacon is Italian prosciutto. But, again, if in Italy it is consumed as a light snack – for example, with a slice of melon, then in Tyrol bacon is treated as a specific piece of ham and is added almost everywhere, including bread.
South Tyrolean apple strudel
The main desserts here are sweet dishes made from apples. South Tyrol has always been famous for its famous apple orchards. In May, the entire region seems to be covered with a light pink mist, and a delicate aroma floats in the air. Local ski resorts often serve apfelkihl – apple slices caramelized with schnapps. Or bisoffene bratapfel – drunken apples in the Tyrolean style.
Innsbruck: a trip to the capital of Tyrol
The main city of the Austrian state of Tyrol can become an interesting intermediate point of a road trip across Europe.
In Central Europe, there are many cities and regions that are deprived of the attention of our tourists because of the inconvenient transport connections for us Ukrainians. In Poland , for example, such are the Masurian lakes and the cities of the Baltic Sea coast. In Germany, there is such an interesting region as Saxony (by the way, judging by the map, this is the closest part of Germany to us , it is adjacent to the Polish border). In both cases, it is impossible to get here either by direct flight or by train.
All of the above fully applies to Austria . For most of us, the country is associated with Vienna and, perhaps, Salzburg (ski resorts will not be taken into account). And all because it is easiest for us to get there by air and by land. And bus tours are focused on these two cities. This is how, for example, Carinthia or Tyrol fall out of sight of our tourists.
All the less, we advise those who are planning a road trip around Europe: as one of the intermediate points of the trip, the capital of Tyrol , the city of Innsbruck deserves to spend a couple of days there.
We determine on the ground
The axis of the land of Tyrol is the river Inn . It originates in Switzerland , crosses all of Austria , and flows into the Danube already on the territory of Germany . The wide valley is the main transport artery of the country, along it are laid roads and railways, along which liners take off and land in Kranebitten – Innsbruck airport.
When you drive along the river, you will see signs from time to time: Zillertal , Etztal , Patznaun . For an inexperienced person, they sound like army commands, but for a skier, this is magical music. After all, these pointers mark the turns into the side valleys, where the famous winter resorts are located. The heart of this mountainous region is the city of Innsbruck.
Old Town: Golden Roof and Black People’s Church
The historical part of the city can be explored in three hours at a leisurely pace. You will not be able to get lost and go somewhere far to the side. It is outlined by a polygon, the sides of which are formed by the river Inn , railway tracks , Maximilianstrasse and the city park . This is where we will begin the story about the architectural monuments of old Innsbruck.
Triumphal Arch
Such structures are traditionally built after some military victories. In the capital of Tyrol , the Arc de Triomphe has nothing to do with war. In 1765, the son of Empress Maria Theresa married a Spanish princess. And of course, it was at the wedding that the father of the groom and the husband of the empress died. So she installed a memorial arch at the entrance gate to old Innsbruck. The side facing north expresses joy at the wedding, and the side facing south expresses mourning for a loved one. Today, through the arch, there is a good view of the ski jump. It turns out very Austrian – the country combines the imperial arrogance of the past and the hi-tech of modern sports.
Maria Theresia Street
It starts from the above-mentioned Triumphal Arch and rests on another landmark of the city – the city hall, which hand to give to the business card of the city – the Golden Roof .
Although Maria-Theresia Strasse is a tourist promenade typical of any European city with cafes and souvenir shops appropriate for such a place, it also has a purely Tyrolean flavor.
First, the mountain range in the background. Secondly, against the background of the mountains, one cannot fail to notice the bell tower of the Spitalkirche (Hospital Church) . Although there are more than a dozen temples in the city, it is this building in the Baroque style that most often gets into the pictures of tourists.
Between the Triumphal Arch and the Hospital Church there is another important monument for Innsbruck – St. Anne’s column . In 1703, the Bavarians invaded Tyrol and the local residents raised an uprising, which was crowned with victory on St. Anne’s Day (July 26).
Golden roof
But the business card of Innsbruck No. 1 is not a building or a monument, but a small extension, the so-called Golden Roof. By and large, this is not a roof at all, but a luxurious bay window covered with gilded copper sheets. They depict the then ruler of these lands, his wives, all kinds of flora and fauna.
The history of the appearance of the Golden Roof is as follows – around 1500, the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, Maximilian, on the occasion of his marriage, ordered this “balcony” to be attached to the residence of one of his predecessors. The building with the legendary balcony houses a couple of museums, and they are completely diverse – the Emperor Maximilian Museum and an exhibition dedicated to the Olympic Games (they were held twice in the capital of Tyrol ).
Next to the Golden Roof is the Tower of the Town Hall – what would a European city be without it? Now it is one of the popular observation decks of the city at a height of 30 m. The best view of the city opens from it closer to the evening.
If you turn right from the building with the Golden Roof and the Town Hall, parallel to the river, the streets will lead to another complex of historical buildings – the massive Hofburg Palace , St. Jacob’s Cathedral , and the Palace Church (Hofkirche) .
It was built for the tomb of Maximilian I, but now the body of the emperor rests in another place. In the church, you can see a bowing sculpture of the ruler, surrounded by 28 statues above human height, cast from bronze. They depict real and legendary ancestors of the emperor. Because of these statues, the temple is also called the “Church of Black People” (entrance ticket – 3 euros).
Modern city: funicular and the world of crystal
Swarovski Museum
The second most popular museum in the country (after Schönbrunn ) is located 15 km from Innsbruck in the town of Wattens . ” Swarovski Crystal Worlds ” cannot be called a museum in the traditional sense of the word. No one here will tell visitors about the company’s glorious history and successes. The main and only object of the exhibition is the crystal itself (to be more precise – glass with the addition of lead) in all its guises. The authors invented a fabulous underground country and filled several halls with shiny treasures. To be honest, you don’t always understand what kind of thing you see in front of you. But in any case, each exhibit looks very impressive.
The entrance ticket to “Crystal Worlds of Swarovski” costs 11 euros, for children under 15 years of age, admission is free. You can get to the museum by a minibus-shuttle that runs every two hours from the tourist information center on Maria-Theresia Strasse (round trip – 19.5 euros).
Nordkettenbahn
If time permits, we highly recommend taking the Nordkettebahn funicular to Hafelekarspitze (2,256 m), which looms over Innsbruck from the north. For those who have never been to the Alps, this is a great opportunity to visit the mountains without any inconvenience or physical effort. In about half an hour, the carriage will take the passenger to the real alpine meadows. A strange feeling arises – you have just been in the city among pompous palaces and human commotion, and now you are surrounded by alpine meadows and mighty ridges on the horizon. But such an idyll awaits the traveler only in the warm season. For quite a long time, there is still snow at this height. The lower station of the funicular is located outside the Old Town, near the City Park and the Palace of Congresses .
The architecture of the funicular stations impresses newcomers to Innsbruck no less than the alpine landscapes. They were created by Zahi Hadid , the world’s most famous female architect of Arab origin. Zahi became the author of many impressive buildings all over the world – from the USA to China and Azerbaijan . Most of all, the buildings of the Innsbruck funicular are reminiscent of alien spaceships.
Since we are located in the capital of the mountainous region, the zoo here is appropriate – AlpenZoo , or rather the Alpine one. The institution turned out to be small, but very well-kept (like everything in Austria ). Its review takes a maximum of 2 hours.
The AlpenZoo is located at the foot of the Hafelekarspitz and it is more convenient to get here with the Nordkettebahn funicular. You only need to get off at the appropriate stop. A ticket (ascent / descent) to the top of the Hafelekarspitze will cost 29 euros, and a combined ticket to the “Alpine Zoo” (entrance ticket plus ascent and descent on the funicular) will cost 11 euros.