Innsbruck is the capital of Tyrol and one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. The city already long enough is the commercial and Transportation Center, as it lies at the junction of two important routes through the central Alps.

Today to preserve the unique beauty of Innsbruck is given much attention. Newly built building in the Central part of the city is blended with Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque buildings. Modern urban development extends along the Inn river to the East and to the West away from the historic areas.

The city name means literally "bridge over the Inn". In 1180 a small settlement on the river moved from the North shore to the place where currently is the Altstadt (Old town). In 1239, the city got its own rights and privileges. In 1420, Innsbruck became the capital of Austria. The city has acquired a special popularity in Europe during the reign of Maximilian I, when he reached the height of its cultural and political significance. Innsbruck experienced another Imperial heyday during the 40-year reign of Maria Theresa.

In 1964 and 1976 the world's attention was drawn to Innsbruck, when it hosted the winter Olympic games. The city today is a center of winter sports with a modern infrastructure. Skiers who come here, benefit twice: they stay in a cosmopolitan city, which is called the pearl of the Alps, and ride some of the world's best slopes. Indifferent to skiing, tourists can enjoy the sights of the medieval Altstadt and other opportunities to spend time outdoors, which offers Tyrol.

Golden roof (Goldenes Dal) is the main attraction of Innsbruck and its most characteristic symbol. It is a magnificent Bay window (three floors) buildings in the Old town. Among other attractions deserve the attention are: the Hofburg Imperial Palace, the Church of Hofkirche, the chief treasure of which is the tomb of Maximilian I, St. Jakob, the castles of Ambras and Furstenburg, triumphal arch, Tyrolean ethnographic Museum, the Tyrolean folk art Museum, Alpine zoo, where you can enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of the city and the surrounding mountains.

Not far from Innsbruck, in Wattens, located in the cave, the fabulous Museum, Swarovski Crystal worlds. It is an underground fantasy with seven connected rooms. Once you enter through the giant's head with sparkling eyes, you will immediately see the huge 12-ton wall, lined with faux crystals. In other rooms You can wander the "Planet of Crystals" with a luminous 3-D show. In the Crystal dome you will understand what it means to be inside a giant crystal. In the Crystal theatre unfolds a fairytale world of color, mystery and graceful movements. Among the Museum's exposition one can see the largest and smallest crystals the world and works of art, designed by many celebrities from Salvador Dali to Andy Warhol.

One of the most interesting attractions of Innsbruck is undoubtedly the Hofburg Palace which is generally visited by all tourists arriving in the city.

The majestic Hofburg Palace, built in the XIV-XVI centuries, was the residence of many rulers of Austria. In the eighteenth century the Empress Maria Theresa was made to the castle structural changes with elements of Rococo, and it was a miracle of Austrian architecture of the XVIII century. In the main hall of the Palace hangs a portrait of the famous youngest daughter of Maria, Marie Antoinette. The Hofburg was the residence of the Tyrolean rulers. Construction of the medieval castle was commissioned by the Tyrolean Archduke Sigmund. In the XV century, his successor, king Maximilian I expanded this building, and subsequently, in the XVIII century on the orders of Maria Theresa, it was rebuilt in the Baroque style (but with Rococo elements) - in this form, the Palace survived to our days. Maria Theresa visited the Palace only twice - passing in 1739 and during the wedding of her son Leopold II and the Spanish Princess Maria Luisa, witnessing the Triumphal arch at the end of the Street of Maria Theresa.

Later, the Empress retained sad memories of this palace, because of  the death of her husband here, Francis Stephen of Lorraine in the 1765. The room where he died, the Empress ordered to be reworked into a chapel.

Palace, flanked by several towers which topped with domes, towers have four wings and are fine examples of Baroque secular architecture.

Visitors can explore today luxurious halls of the Palace: painted in white and gold color two-storied Giant Hall (Gala Hall), filled with portraits of the children of Maria Theresa and her husband, the Royal Chapel and apartments, as well as adjacent to the building of the palace garden.

Tyrol Museum of Folk Art houses has the most impressive collection of works of art of Tyrolean artists. You will find here everything - from cots to monumental stoves in rural homes. The collections include artifacts created during not only the rich and pompous Baroque era, but in the era of Gothic and Renaissance. In 1888, Tyrolean society of craftsmen decided to set up in Innsbruck "Tyrol Museum of Crafts" in order to show the historical development of folk art and to give new impetus to the development of crafts in the Tyrol.

Later, the museum received a permanent residence in a former Franciscan monastery. In 1926 the collection passed into the possession of Tyrol, and 3 years later, in 1926, the Museum was officially opened.

Most of the collection was acquired on the eve of the First World War on the territory of the historic county of Tyrol. It should be noted that the collected objects belonged to the peasant, bourgeois and aristocratic groups.

Amazingly diverse and impressive is the collection of Christmas crèches, some of these items are created in the XVIII century. The most beautiful rooms are located on the upper floors. Here are exhibited the products of times of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque, as well as a collection of models of typical Tyrolean houses.