Maximilian I was one of the most charismatic and colourful rulers of the House of Habsburg. Emperor from 1493 until his death in 1519, he was a protagonist at the waning of the Middle Ages, standing on the threshold of the Renaissance, a circumstance that earned him the epithet ‘the last of the knights’. Northern Tyrol, comprising Kufstein, the Inn Valley and the mountains rising towards the Brenner Pass, was particularly dear to Maximilian: rich in natural resources, above all in silver ore and salt, it provided much of the wealth necessary to finance the campaigns of an emperor notoriously and constantly strapped for cash. Maximilian’s favourite residence and capital of all Tyrol — then stretching as far south as the prince-bishopric of Trento — was the town of Innsbruck, important crossing point of the River Inn and postal station between Augsburg and Verona. Innsbruck blossomed under Habsburg patronage and developed into a treasure chest of art and architecture from the Late Middle Ages to the Age of Absolutism. Flanked by the Karwendel Mountains in the north and the Tuxer and Stubaier Alps in the south, the valley of the Inn is shaped by awe-inspiring mountains and deep glacial valleys. Well-preserved towns, villages and richly endowed monastic foundations and pilgrimage churches are lined up along the river’s banks. Summer solstice bonfires, parish festivals, the clanging of cow bells and yodelling are part and parcel of the region’s heritage. At the same time, bold contemporary designs, such as Zaha Hadid’s ski jump demonstrates that Tyrol successfully blends past and present.
Dates:
17 - 23 October 2022
Prices:
Twin/double share: from £2795
No flights price: £2695 - call for details
Double room for sole use supplement: £250
Deposit: £450
All prices listed are per person