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ANTON PROCK TYROL THE TRAVEL GUIDE ANTON PROCK TYROL THE TRAVEL GUIDE TYROLIA-VERLAG · INNSBRUCK-WIEN INTRODUCTION TIROL So much to see – so much to do Tyrol – land in the mountains in the heart tween mankind and nature. The harsh of Europe, farming region, center for climate and poor soil conditions com- tourism, with countless sport and leisure bined with inhumane legal regulations, opportunities in summer and winter- have often left its inhabitants struggling time, a transit state that has been of ma- to survive. Nonetheless, nature has also jor historic significance for centuries – a inspired the people. Tyrol is and has stunning and multi-faceted region. Visi- been home to countless artists, a num- tors may explore not only breathtaking ber of whom have left their traces in the nature, but also medieval towns, idyllic region, while others were forced to leave mountain villages, castles, monasteries, the area to pursue their passions else- churches and chapels. Those who want where. One only need think of Jakob to get to know this extraordinary region Prandtauer from Stanz near Landeck, better must also familiarize themselves who built Stift Melk (Melk Abbey) in Low- with its past. er Austria for example. During the course of its history, Tyrol has Anyone who lives in Tyrol often stops no- witnessed times of wealth and prosperi- ticing the beauties of the land. However, ty, but also of hardship and adversity. there are often many sights worth seeing The natural resources in Schwaz and in one’s very own hometown. A walk other areas of the region, alongside the around the nearby area or slightly further salt mining in Hall, have had a particu- afield, or a day trip to another part of the larly positive influence on the develop- region can be a true experience. Take ment of Tyrol. Furthermore, the traffic time out and go on a tranquil walk over the mountain passes and through through the forest in autumn, visit a cas- the major valleys was an important tle or take a pleasant stroll around one of source of income and resulted not least the medieval towns. Make your trip a in the emergence of many settlements. special experience! However, its history has also been This travel guide is written for both resi- marked by the plague, natural disasters dents and visitors to Tyrol. It intends to and countless wars. Furthermore, when give a concise yet thorough introduction taking in the many stunning sights of Ty- to all the areas of Tyrol. Particularly wor- rol one must not forget the struggle be- thy sights are highlighted and described Looking at Innsbruck – in the background the Serles, one of the famous mountains near the city in greater detail. Importance has been I was born and raised in this region. Tyrol placed on embedding this in the history is my home. A place that I love and am of the region: The aim is to present rela- proud of. I hope that this travel guide will tionships and connections, to underline prove a welcome companion for all deeper background knowledge. The those who wish to get to know Tyrol and guide also contains tips for leisure activi- share my passion for this land. ties, as well as important addresses, phone numbers and internet references Anton Prock to aid the reader. Jenbach, in April 2019 CHAPTER 1 AN OUTLINE OF TYROL History, art, culture and much more 6 the sub-tropical Mediterranean region. GEOGRAPHY The West-East range holds back the cooler air masses coming from the north Population: 751,140 (2019) and the warmer air originating from the Population density: 59 inhabitants south as a general rule. 2 per km The western and northern areas of the 2 Area: 12,648 km state are frequently subject to Atlantic 2 (Austria 83,871 km ) influences, while the east has a more Dimensions: North-South 107 km, continental climate and the southern re- West-East 220 km gion (South and East Tyrol) has Mediter- Highest point: 3798 m (Großglockner ranean characteristics. A phenomenon mountain) that is particular to the alpine area is the Lowest point: 465 m (border at Erl) foehn, a warm, dry down-slope wind that State borders: 1042 km (of which with frequently occurs on the leeward side of Germany 343 km, Italy 303 km, the mountains. Wind speeds of up to Switzerland 59 km) 200 km/h can arise. This accelerates the State coat of arms: Red eagle with snow thawing in winter and spring. golden crown and green garland The snow line in the north sits at 2400– behind the head 2600 m, in the central Alps at 2800– State capital: Innsbruck 3200 m. Summers are relatively damp Districts (9): Innsbruck, Innsbruck- with maximum temperatures around Land, Imst, Kitzbühel, Kufstein, 30° C, while autumn tends to be drier Landeck, Reutte, Schwaz, Lienz (East with good weather, and winter is snowy at Tyrol) higher altitudes. However, significant lo- Municipalities: 279 (North Tyrol 246, cal differences occur. East Tyrol 33) Climate change has resulted in rapid gla- Highest mountains: Großglockner cial melting in recent decades. The aver- (3798 m), Wildspitze (3768 m) age monthly temperatures in Tyrol are Largest lake: Lake Achen (“Achensee”) -2° C in January, 0° C in February, 5° C in 2 (6.8 km ) March, 8° C in April, 13° C in May, 16° C in Largest river: Inn (519 km, of which in June, 18° C in July and August, 14° C in Tyrol 212 km) September, 9° C in October, 3° C in No- Largest towns and municipalities: vember and -1° C in December. Innsbruck (132,493), Kufstein (19,223), Telfs (15,747), Hall (13,897), Schwaz (13,728), Wörgl (13,811), Lienz in East INTRODUCTION Tyrol (11,844), Imst (10,504), Rum ART (9190), St. Johann (9428) Thanks to its central location in the Alps, Tyrol has always served as a transit re- CLIMATE gion and has therefore always been open to exchanges with the southern Tyrol is situated in an area with a moder- (Italian) and northern (German, Dutch ate central European climate. The Alps and Bohemian) cultural areas. In the late form a climatic divide between central Gothic and Baroque periods, the Ger- Europe with its moderate climate, and man influence on Tyrolean art was par- 7 Wilten monastery ticularly strong; in the Renaissance, the 1000–1300) are also rare in North and Italian influence prevailed. Tyrolean art- East Tyrol. As a consequence of in- ists studied abroad and combined for- creased travel through the region and eign influence with their local style. the growing mining industry in the 15th Three epochs left behind intensive trac- and 16th centuries, the Gothic period es in North Tyrol: the Gothic, Baroque (circa 1300 – 1520) is heavily represented and Historicism periods. Today, count- in Tyrol. Italian influences in Tyrol origi- less village churches and chapels still nate in particular from the Renaissance attest to the relative prosperity of the re- period (from roughly 1520), largely as a gion in those times. However, the small transitional style. Much like the Gothic number of large monasteries (Wilten, period, the Baroque era (around 1610 – Stams and Fiecht) did not have a particu- 1770) with the late part of the Rococo larly significant influence on the artistic period spawned countless artworks. landscape. During the 19th century numerous From 1420, important influences came churches were constructed in, or con- from the Innsbruck Imperial Court – and verted to the Historicism style in the in particular from the art-loving rulers Tyrolean Oberland in particular. Their INTRODUCTION Emperor Maximilian I, Archduke Ferdi- interior design is referred to as the Naza- nand II, Archduke Maximilian III, and rene style. The turn of the 20th century Archduke Leopold V and his two sons. witnessed the arrival of the Art Nouveau Settlements in Tyrol in pre-Roman and Heimat style movements. The pe- times are readily traceable thanks to the riod between the two world wars saw numerous archeological finds in the re- construction in the sober New Objectiv- gion. In contrast, the Romans them- ity style. The relocation of the govern- selves left very little trace. Works of art ment seat from Merano to Innsbruck in from the Romanesque period (around 1420 and the start of mining for silver 8 Freundsberg Castle in Schwaz and copper in Schwaz and other Tyrole- near Innsbruck and Kropfsberg castle on an regions around that time brought the route out of the Zillertal valley. Mi- about a cultural heyday. This was the chael Pacher (around 1435–1498) and Gothic period. The mediaeval towns of Marx Reichlich (1460–1520), both from Kufstein, Kitzbühel, Rattenberg, Hall in South Tyrol, and Jörg Kölderer (around Tyrol and Innsbruck are examples of the 1470–1540) are just a few examples of Inn-Salzach Style. The towns were the countless painters from that era. Be- home to prosperous citizens, the Inns- tween the Gothic and the Renaissance bruck Imperial Court was a hub for art- periods (from roughly 1500), Tyrol expe- ists. Various Bauhütten (associations of rienced a period of prosperity under Em- tradesmen) constructed large and richly peror Maximilian I, who gave his name to furnished churches, which were the the Maximilian transitional style. This pride of local citizens alongside the town can be seen for example in Tratzberg halls and town houses. Significant Goth- Castle, the Golden Roof, countless town ic buildings in Tyrol include the parish houses and the Court Church (“Hof- churches in Hall, Schwaz, Kitzbühel, kirche”) in Innsbruck (1553–1563), the Imst, Seefeld and St. Leonhard near cloister of the Franciscan monastery in Kundl.