Bergisel, Innsbruck

On the south bank of the river Inn you can't miss the Ski Jump, the pride of Innsbruck - Bergisel. The tower is 47 meters tall and the access is made with an wire-tracted lift (funicular) getting up some 30 (or maybe more) people at once. The view of Innsbruck from Bergisel Jump Tower is pretty impresive. Though you can have higher points of view from both of the mountains surrounding Innsbruck, here is more easy to climb (car & lift). At Bergiesel you will also find a fancy (carefull, it's also pricy) restaurant, vith a perfect view over Innsbruck and its mountains.

The visit to Bergisel Tower will cost an adult € 7,9 (for the funicular up to the tower, then the elevator up the restaurant and the jumping point is free). If you're there by car, there is a parking 5 minutes from the jump, charging € 3,2.

I would just love to watch a ski-jumping competition at innsbruck, but I have never been able to make it for the right week yet - maybe one day. Standing at the top of the run in summer, is however quite something. After spending about 8 euro or so on the funicular up, the view is well worth the entrance money to this place. It dates back to the 1920's, but was completely overhauled for the two olympic games that have been hosted here.

Standing at the top of the 'big' hill makes you realise that these supoerhumans who throw themselves down the hill towards the town must the stark stareing mad. Wearing no more that two long matchsticks on their feet and a giant inflatable condom, they are airborne for longer than the Wright brothers.

Apparantly the worst of it is the view (one that I will never experience) seen in mid-flight. It is said that the rela experts head for a particularly prominent grave in the boneyard that lies just beyond the landing area. Spooky.

The skyjumping is located on the Bergisel Mountain near Innsbruck. It was completed to end of 2001 and it borned from the winning project of OSH in the 1999 . It is 50 meters high and 90 meters long. You can see it from everywhere in the town. Two liftes carry you on the panoramic floor where you can have a great view.

Innsbruck hosted the winter olympic in 1964 and 1976. A visit at the skijumping hills Bergisel is a must. You have such a nice view all around the city. And breed in all the history.

Innsbruck is one of 4 cities that host the four hill tournament in skijumping, every year in january.

...to enjoy Bergisel Stadion. Inaugurated in 2002, the tower of the ski-jumping stadium has a panoramic platform and a restaurant that give visitors wonderful views of the city and its surroundings.

Unfortunately, the "Cafe in Turm" restaurant closes at 7 p.m., after which it is only available for group reservations. Nevertheless, it is an ideal place a coffee break, especially if you climbed the mountain instead of taking the Sightseeing Bus to reach the stadium. (We missed the last bus out of Bergisel and had to take the path down.)

Before you go down, take time to stand at the starting point of the ski jump track. You will notice that as you lift your eyes from the end of the track, the first thing you see is a cemetary!

Bergisel Stadion is open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Starting May 1st, 2006, the cost of an admission ticket is 8.30 euros. From April to October, this ticket also grants you access to the nearby Kaiserjaeger museum.

Going to the ski jumping stadium is a must when visiting Innsbruck. We took the elevator to the top, and even though it was a grey day, it was a fantastic experience. Both the view and the construction it selfs was worth the trip. There were some trouble with the elevator when we were going down and we has to take the stairs down. Then we really got the feeling of how steep the slope is.

Only completed at the end of 2002, the Birgisel ski stadium is Innsbruck's newest landmark, and one that can be seen from all over the city, as well as the surrounding mountains. It can be seen from most viewing points around the city, and has a great vantage point itself. It is open every day until 6pm (5pm in winter).

Bergisel and the famous ski-jump are well known since the 2 olympic games that were held in Innsbruck in 1964 and 1976. You may even see the ski-jump from many places in the centre of Innsbruck, like here through the Triumph-Bogen in Maria Theresienstrasse. You may as well go there and have a look around and go to the great panorama-restaurant there - see my seperate restaurant-tip !
The ski-jump may be visited daily !
november-june 09:30a.m. - 05:00 p.m. last descent elevator 05:45p.m.
from june 18th - november 2nd: 08:30a.m. - 06:00p.m., last descent elevator 06:15