Inn Valley in the Realm of the Last Knight

17 October 2022

7 days from £2,725pp

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.

Enjoy a drink and the stunning views from the hotel’s roof top terrace
Private view of manuscripts in the library of Stams abbey;
Private visit to the Tyrolian parliament building with its hall and chapel sumptuously decorated in early Baroque stucco
Marvel at the rich and varied art collections of Maximilian and his successors at Ambras castle

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.

Day 1:
Morning flight with Lufthansa from London Heathrow to Munich. Transfer by coach to Innsbruck with stop en route at Kufstein. On arrival in Innsbruck, an afternoon walk will introduce you to Maximilian’s favourite city. Among numerous palatial town houses, the residence of Emperor Maximilian I stands out for its ‘Goldenes Dachl’ — the three-storied balcony, covered with 3,000 fire-gilt copper tiles, from where the ruler could see and be seen.
Day 2:
A day in Innsbruck on foot. The Court Church is home to a monument that is hard to beat: Maximilian’s humongous cenotaph, flanked by 28 colossal bronze sculptures designed and cast by the leading artists of the day, most notably Albrecht Dürer and Peter Vischer the Elder. In the afternoon, we will explore sumptuous Baroque Habsburg State Apartments in the Hofburg and the Cathedral of St James, exquisitely frescoed and stuccoed by the Asam brothers and featuring another impressive Habsburg monument in bronze. The Tyrolean Parliament building with its chapel, open to us by appointment, has magnificent stucco and fresco decoration.
Day 3:
Located in the hills above Innsbruck, Ambras Castle ranks amongst Tyrol’s most impressive Renaissance buildings. Its creator, Archduke Ferdinand II of Habsburg, a true Renaissance Man, was an enthusiastic patron of the arts and founder of a vast and fascinating collection of art, armour and curiosities. The exceptional Habsburg portrait gallery with over 200 paintings includes masterpieces by Cranach, Titian and Velázquez. Return to Innsbruck via Hall. This attractive small town, which owed much of its wealth to mining for salt, has an almost perfectly preserved Late mediaeval look and a beautifully displayed Mint Museum focusing on the history of money.
Day 4:
In the morning walk to the Ferdinandeum, the Tyrolean National Museum, where we will focus on the fine collection of northern Late Gothic art and the portraiture in the Age of Maximilian. From the centre of Innsbruck we take the Hungerburg funicular, designed by Zaha Hadid, to the Nordkette mountain range with spectacular views of the Inn valley. After we enjoyed lunch together in the hill top restaurant we return to Innsbruck centre for some more free time.
Day 5:
By coach to the Cistercian abbey of Stams, one of the region’s most powerful monasteries. Founded as a burial place for the Tyrolean rulers in the Middle Ages, it was rebuilt after a fire in the 17th century. Its striking appearance with distinctive onion-shaped domes, sumptuous stuccowork and rich pictorial decoration, is typical of Austrian Baroque, though this opulence may seem somewhat at odds with the Cistercian tenet of austerity. Special appointment to see some of the most beautiful illuminated manuscripts from the abbey’s library. Return to Innsbruck for some free time.
Day 6:
By coach to Schloss Tratzberg, after Ambras the most important palace in Tyrol, preserving its splendidly painted courtyard, exquisite mediaeval and Renaissance parlours and a 46-metre-long mural representing the oldest painted family tree of the Habsburg clan. Nearby Schwaz is known as the ‘Mother of all Mines’ because of its silver mines, exploited by the Fugger bankers from Augsburg and the Habsburgs alike. In 1500, some 12,000 men were employed in the industry. Schwaz’s huge Late Gothic parish church reflects the town’s wealth. Nearby, the walls of the secluded cloister of the Franciscan friary are covered with murals based on designs by artists such as Martin Schongauer and Dürer.
Day 7:
In the morning coach transfer to Munich airport for a flight with Lufthansa to London Heathrow.

Scheduled return flights (economy class) with Lufthansa between London Heathrow and Munich.
Transfers and excursions in Austria by private coach.
Six nights’ accommodation in the Hotel Maximillion, Strad Thaus, Penz
Three dinners and two lunches.
Guided visits to monuments and museums as listed in the programme.
Services of the tour lecturer and tour manager
Detailed programme of study notes.
All entrance fees, taxes and gratuities for coach drivers and waiters

Dr Ulrike Ziegler

Specialising in mediaeval art and in cultural politics of post-war Germany at the universities of Regensburg and Aberdeen, Dr Ulrike Ziegler is a well-respected member of Art Pursuits Abroad and has lectured at universities and for multiple cultural institutions, along with organising and leading many study tours in both Germany and Austria. Ulrike is now working on Art Pursuits Abroad’s German programme.

Fly from London Heathrow

Return flights from London Heathrow are included in our package on our specific arrival and departure dates plus one item of checked in luggage, per person.

Transfers will also be included on our specific arrival and departure dates to take you to your holiday destination. If you choose to arrive or depart on a different day, there may be an additional supplement charged to cover your transfer costs.

Overview

The four-star Hotel Maximillan is a family run hotel set in the heart of the Alps in the centre of Innsbruck. The Golden Roof, the Imperial Palace, the Cathedral of St. James, Maria-Theresien Straße Shopping Street, the Congresshaus, the University, and the hospital are just a few minutes' walk away. The rooms and suite are all comfortably and stylishly furnished, have minibar, safe and air conditioning.