Innsbruck, Austria

Innsbruck
View of Innsbruck. Photo Creative Commons License James Cridland

Innsbruck is the capital of the federal state of Tirol in western Austria. Nestled in an Alpine valley, Innsbruck is a favorite destination for skiing in winter and mountaineering in summer. But Innsbruck also makes an attractive choice for the pilgrim, spiritually-inclined traveler, or architecture buff. The city itself has a Baroque cathedral and several historic churches and just a short bus ride away are the two important Catholic shrines of Absam and Seefeld.


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Innsbruck Cathedral
Rebuilt between 1717 and 1724, this cathedral is roofed with domes and features a lavish Baroque interior. The main attraction is the high altar painting of Mary of Succor by Lucas Cranach the Elder.
Hofkirche
The Hofkirche in Innsbruck is a royal mausoleum built in 1553. It contains the ornate black marble tomb of Emperor Maximilian I (although his remains are elsewhere), which is considered a great feat of German Renaissance sculpture.