After the popularity of my recent “Venice in the Rain” post, I have been thinking of starting an “In the Rain” series as the weather has been obliging of late believe me!…
Having kept us awake for nearly the whole of our last night at Natterersee, the heavy rain helped us with our packing up and getting out the door too. I don’t think any of us would have been happy about leaving the place had it as been as sunny as the previous two days… Car stuffed with various camping paraphernalia, we bade our little froggy friends a fond farewell and headed into Innsbruck – it’s only a few kilometres up the road from here so it would have been rude not to…
Of course Innsbruck is more famous for its snow than its rain having hosted the Winter Olympics on two previous occasions, and completely surrounded as it is by impressive mountains (none of which we could see on this particular day!). It’s definitely worth a visit whatever the season, and compact enough to cover thoroughly in a day or two if that’s all you have. We only had a morning here however, so bear with me on this whistle-stop tour…
A wander around the Medieval Aldstadt (old town) is a must – particularly if you’re a fan of gothic architecture. Even if your roof level view is obstructed by umbrellas (yours or someone else’s), you can’t miss the glittering tiles of the Goldenes Dachl Museum – the hoards of admiring tourists standing underneath will indicate where you are…
The Goldenes Dachl is one of Innsbruck’s most famous landmarks by the way, and once the realm of Emperor Maximilian himself. He built the ornate bay window especially to watch tournaments down in Innsbruck’s main square just in case you’re wondering. Nowadays it’s a museum dedicated to his life, and I have heard that there’s a good children’s section here too – which we will investigate next time.
Keep an eye out for the glorious green domes of the Imperial Hofburg too, and the baroque 18th Century St Jacobs Cathedral (as featured in my last Silent Sunday!). Two of Bavaria’s most famous siblings – the Asam brothers contributed to some of its interior by the way if you find such things interesting. And if you don’t, you might just want to look them up – it could be the start of something beautiful…
I am sure you won’t be surprised to hear that cake featured somewhere in our visit. I hear there’s a branch of Hotel Sacher in Innsbruck too, but a slice of its famous torte wasn’t to be on this occasion. Instead, having taken our fill of Innsbruck’s medieval streets, and in need of a little pick me up (and “dry me out”), we happily stumbled across Cafe Mundig in all of its 200 hundred year old magnificent cake making glory. This was to prove a bitter-sweet experience for me however, as it was here my beloved little Canon died a sudden death. It had lived happily in my bag, rescuing me from having to lug my big camera around from time to time… But (having taken tens of thousands of pictures) an attempted shot of what can only be described as the most amazing custard slice in the world proved far too much for it, and I therefore cannot show you what it looked like. Thankfully the delectability of the custard slice helped me through said trauma. The other Bavarian Sojourn family members can also highly recommend the blueberry milkshakes, the raspberry torte, and a slice of something chocolate that didn’t last long enough for me to trace the name back to the cake counter…
Anyway Innsbruck, it was short but sweet – thanks for having us. I know we will see you again – in the snow next time?
Cafe Mundig,
Kiebachgasse 16,
Innsbruck
I remember Selena writing about Innsbruck some time ago when she travelled around Austria by train. I was very taken with the town then so this has just sealed it for me.
It is really worth a visit, come rain, snow or hopefully sunshine! Thank you! :)
Too bad about the camera. I was hoping to see what the cake slice looked like. Innsbruck is so charming in your photos. That golden roofed window bay is quite pretty. I’d love to explore that place.
Thanks Michelle! I need to go back, to have more of that cake, to take a picture of it, and also to go inside the Golden Museum! :D
I can’t believe I nearly missed this blog, having only just discovered it in my emails! It took me back to when I was a child and I had to take my brother’s place on a school trip as he was unfortunately hospitalised after his typhoid jab (yes, you needed a typhoid jab in those days to visit Innsbruck!) I remember standing on top of the ski jump which was being prepared for the Olympic Games – too long ago to work out when that was! I loved Innsbruck. x
We saw a big ski jump there… No snow on it though! Can’t believe that about the typhoid jab! :D xx
Stunning pictures again. It’s always more difficult to bring out the beauty of rain but it can certainly give a different angle on a place compared to the usual sunny shots. Love the two walking down the street at the end there.
Thanks Bronwyn… Letting the cloud act as a natural lightbox is always handy – you just have to ignore the rain! :D
I’ve been here on a family holiday many moons ago although I can’t remember anything about it – it looks beautiful!
Thanks Cass! (:
It’s been almost 20 years since I last was in Innsbruck and I’d love to return now that I’d probably appreciate it a bit more. The only thing I can remember is das Goldene Dachl and buying a Game Boy with my holiday money…
Thanks Carolin… Funny the places we went as children that we just completely didn’t appreciate isn’t it!? :D
Love the contrast of the sky colours with the brightest colours of the images.
Thanks Emma! :)
You are amazing to have got all this out of one morning. If anyone deserves this travelling adventure it’s you. If it were me you’d have got a picture of the raspberry torte and the milkshakes with the caption, “we spent a pleasant morning in Innsbruck.” Well done.
Thanks so much R. I actually think I go on half the time! :D
Those colours of the banners and the amazing pink chairs look so striking in contrast to the ominous sky!
Thanks Liz, I loved those chairs! :D
I know what you mean!! My favourite photo is the one with the pink and yellow tables and chairs. :) xx
Mine too… I would love a few of those for the garden! :D xx
What a great idea for a series! And secretly glad it’s not just the UK that always has rain. I’ve been to Innsbruck in the snow and it’s such a lovely place. Thanks for the tour – reminds me I should go back. x
Thanks Susanna! Technically they actually have more rain here than they do in the UK, it’s just a lot more spread out at home whilst here it happens in one big deludge and then that tends to be your lot for a while! :D x
Gorgeous tale of Innsbruck and I am so sorry to hear about the camera, I KNOW what this means when you’re out on the road.
Love the ‘chocolate something that remains un-named. I think I’ll go for that one!
Thank you Mari… The camera has been laid to rest and a new one has taken its place already thankfully… And don’t worry about the cake – you don’t need to know the name. Anything chocolate here is good! :D xx
Fabulous pictures as always, love the pink tables and the shot with all the umbrellas in front of the museum, looks like a gorgeous place. x
Thank you Sonya, it is so pretty! :) x
Haha, I love that your camera had heart failure over the cake ;)
I’ve never been to Innsbruck but it’s one of those places that is completely on my bucket list – especially now you’ve mentioned the cafe! Love the choir lady picture.
Thank you… Yes, blinking thing! :D Austria is gorgeous and you should make it to Innsbruck if you can! :)
Somewhere in the loft at my dad’s is a photograph of me jumping of the steps of that memorial when I was about 3 ! I have no real memory of Innsbruck, but the family certainly tell stories of happy family holidays there!
That’s fantastic Mary! :)