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The Austrian Tyrol

The Austrian Tyrol is a picture-book region of outstanding beauty, where jagged, snow-capped peaks tower above fast-flowing rivers, green meadows and onion-domed churches. It is a paradise for anyone who enjoys the great outdoors, offering excellent downhill and cross-country skiing in winter, and wonderful walking in summer.

Geography

The Tyrol as a whole measures some 10,000 square miles and is covered almost entirely by the Alps (before being named the Tyrol, it was known simply as the 'land in the mountains'). After World War I, the southern half was granted to Italy, while Austria retained possession of the North and East Tyrol, which boasts some mighty peaks - more than 700 mountains are over 3000 metres high. The summit of the tallest, Wildspitze, towers 3,347 metres above sea level.

History

The Tyrol was conquered in 15BC by the Romans, and was later settled by Bavarian tribes in the 8th century. For several centuries it was a dukedom, whose centre was Merano in what is now Italy. After the widow of the last of the Görz-Tirol dukes died in 1363, it was incorporated into the Habsburg dynasty. Over the following centuries it enjoyed great stability and prosperity until it was ceded to Bavaria in 1805, resulting in the so-called Tyrolean War of Independence, an uprising led by Andreas Hofer. Emerging victorious from the battle of Bergisel, the Tyrolese rebels set up a civilian government in Innsbruck in 1809, but it lasted only a few months, collapsing after Hofer's assassination. The Tyrol remained under Franco-Bavarian rule until 1815, when it was returned to Austria in the wake of Napoleon's defeat. Ever since those turbulent times, Bergisel Mountain has been regarded by the Tyrolese as a symbol of freedom.

The Tyrolese

The mountains have moulded Tyrolean life and there is a strong sense of Tyrolean identity. The traditional dress of lederhosen and feathered hats is commonly seen. The Tyrol has a long tradition of hospitality, having welcomed thousands of travellers crossing the Alps on their journeys across Europe over the centuries.

Tyrolean cuisine

Tyrolean cooking is fairly hearty, with bacon and cured pork featuring in many dishes. Traditional dishes include Gröstl (pan-fried onion, meat and potato), Schlipfkrapfen (ravioli-like parcels filled with meat and/or potato) and Tiroler Knödeln (dumplings with small pieces of ham). Bauernschöpsernes is another regional speciality - lamb seared with fried onion rings, braised and then cooked with red wine and potatoes until tender. Traditionally, it should be followed by doughnuts or stewed apple for dessert, and perhaps a glass of fruit schnapps, too. Many villages produce their own varieties of schnapps, so it is worth asking in restaurants to try the local brand.

Innsbruck

The Tyrolean capital is Innsbruck. It is a compact city, its size restricted by the surrounding mountains, which provide a spectacular backdrop to the medieval old town, with its attractive Gothic and Baroque buildings. The city's most famous sight, the Goldenes Dachl ('Golden Roof') is a reminder of Innsbruck's golden era, when it became Maximilian I's imperial capital in the 1490s.

We offer both winter and summer holidays in the Tyrol. The Hotel Xander, Inntalerhof and Hotel Wiesenhof make excellent bases for a holiday in the snow, offering cross-country skiing and, depending on which you choose, winter walking and/or downhill skiing. In summer, we offer a popular walking holiday through the unspoiled Leutasch Valley, following paths through Alpine meadows and pine forests, with options to head up into the surrounding mountains.

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