Innsbruck, Austria, Nestled in the Tyrolean Alps

          After a breathtakingly beautiful train ride through the Dolomites of Northern Italy, I crossed the border into Austria and arrived in Innsbruck on a late Sunday afternoon in June.  Innsbruck, site of the 1964 and 1976 Winter Olympics, is a lovely small city nestled in the Tyrolean Alps on the Inn River.  ‘Brucke’ means bridge in German, thus Innsbruck means ‘bridge over the Inn River’.  In no time I found a nice pension (Pension Stoi) not far from the train station for the equivalent of $58, including private bath.  Innsbruck is an easily walkable ‘town’ and after a quick rest, I was on my way to the Altstadt or Old Town along the river where I would soon be treated to a surprise.

The Old Town

          The colorful Baroque architecture of Innsbruck dates back to the Hapsburg Dynasty and includes two special churches, Dom St. Jakob and the Hofkirche, as well as the Hofburg or summer home of the Hapsburgs.  Perhaps the most famous sight in the Altstadt is the Golden Roof, a gold balcony honoring Hapsburg Emperor, Maximilian I.  The Ambras Castle in the hills above Innsbruck will have to wait until my next visit.  Built by Archduke Ferdinand II, it houses many valuable collections of art and other memorabilia from the Hapsburg Dynasty.

A Special Treat 

          As I was taking in the splendor of these surroundings, mingling with the friendly, local people and not knowing where to look next, I heard the faint sound of a large brass band off in the distance.  It suddenly grew louder as the parade rounded a corner and entered the main street of the Altstadt, heading right in my direction.  Soon the main square was filled with a marching band and dancers of all ages, each in traditional folk dress, regaling the delighted tourists with about 45 minutes of entertainment before marching off again into the distance.  It was one of those treats that all travelers hope for, a glimpse of local culture, and it will forever be one of the highlights of my world travels.  Innsbruck was like being at Disneyland, except it was the real thing!

You’ll Enjoy This Video of a Tyrolean Marching Band and Dancers