Page 249 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Austria

INNSBRUCK  247

VISITORS’ CHECKLIST R Wilten In 2011, the Riesenrundge mälde,
In the southeastern suburb of a panoramic painting of the
Practical Information Wilten stands a lovely Baroque Battle of Bergisel, was moved
Universitätsstrasse 2. basilica, built in 1751–6 on the from its previous home at the
Tel (0512) 594 895 10. foundations of a former chapel. bottom of the Hungerburg
Open 9am–5pm Mon–Sat, The church was intended to cable car, to Das Tirol
12:30–5pm Sun & hols. & provide a worthy setting for the Panorama, a museum on
∑ tiroler-landesmuseen.at
picture of Our Lady at Four top of Bergisel. Painted by
Columns, which miracles were Zeno Diemer in 1896, and
attributed to. It was designed measuring 10 x 100 m
by Franz de Paula Penz and (33 x 328 ft), the
the interior has been kept panorama is a trompe
in the Rococo style. The l’oeil depicting an
altarpiece, with its gold, abbreviated version
pink and yellow colour of the entire battle.
scheme, includes a The museum
14th-century painting also hosts temporary
of the Madonna. It is exhibitions alongside
surrounded by an its permanent collection
intricate canopy resting of Tyrolean artifacts.
on slender columns. On Bergiselschanze,
The ceiling paintings one of the competitions
are by an Augsburg Statue of Andreas Hofer in the world-famous
artist, Matthäus on Bergisel Vierschanzen tournee
Günther, and show in (four hills’ ski-jumping
the presbytery Saint Mary Our tournament) is held every year
Advocate and in the nave on 4 January.
Esther and Judith.
The Romanesque abbey of O Alpenzoo
Wilten has a church built in Weiherburggasse 37A. Tel (0512)
the 12th century, devoted to 292323. Open Apr–Oct: 9am–6pm;
St Lawrence. According to Nov–Mar: 9am–5pm. &
legend, the abbey was built by On the southern slopes of
the giant Haymon, in atonement Bergisel is a fascinating Alpine
for the murder of another giant, zoo, housing a comprehensive
Thyrsus; both are commemo- collection of alpine fauna. There
rated by statues. Burned and are some 2,000 animals here,
destroyed several times, the representing more than 150
abbey was rebuilt in Baroque species typically found in an
style in the 17th–18th centuries. Alpine habitat, including the
alpine ibex and bear, and many
Bergisel local birds, fish and reptiles.
Das Tirol Panorama and Kaiserjäger- A cable car from Hungerburg
museum: Bergisel 1–2. Tel (0512) Talstation takes you to the zoo;
5948 9611. Open 9am–5pm Wed– the ride is free with an entry
Mon (until 7pm Thu Jul & Aug). & 7 ticket to the zoo.
On 13 August 1809, Bergisel
(Isel Mountain), in the south
of the city, was the scene of a
battle fought by Andreas Hofer
(see p245) and his army of
insur gent highlanders, who
defeated the combined
occupying forces of Bavaria
and France. The hill is now a
popular place for week end
walks among the residents
of Innsbruck.
Charles the Bold A monument to Andreas
The statue of Charles the Hofer and the Kaiserjäger-
Bold, duke of Burgundy and museum serve as reminders
Maximilian’s father-in-law, stands of the 1809 battle, as well as of
to the right of the cenotaph, later battles by this famous An otter in Alpenzoo, which is located
closest to the high altar. regiment of imperial fusiliers. above Hungerburg

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