Igls

Understand

As a town between Innsbruck and the Patscherkofel mountain, Igls is most appreciated as a haven of quietness just south of the regional capital city. It is popular with tourists in summer because of its archaeological heritage and hiking opportunities, and in winter for the ski facilities on the 1 Patscherkofel.

2 Tourist Information Office (Tourismus Information Igls), Hilberstraße 15, ☏ +43 512 37 71 01, [email protected]. M-F 08:30-18:00, Sa 08:30-11:30. (updated Sep 2018)

History The history of Igls is largely a mystery, although row graves were uncovered within its administrative boundaries, and the nearby Goldbichl hill to the south is an important archaeological site for Tyrol. There is discussion over the name of Igls, which is either said to originate from an 11th century monastery at the Tegernsee, which had possessions in Igls. Igls developed from a rural village into a summer resort for the Innsbruck upper class in the 19th century, and with it came the construction of the first hotels in the town. Igls rose to international fame through the Olympic Winter Games of 1964 and 1976 being organized on the slopes of the Patscherkofel. An ice bobsleigh track and Olympic ski run were constructed, and these facilities are still in use for international sports competitions such as the Youth Olympics of 2012. Igls is a victim of global warming: snowfall is diminishing year after year. Lack of snow has resulted in the closure and decommissioning of the Patscherkofelbahn base station which used to offer skiers a direct ascent onto the Patscherkofel from the heart of Igls. The new base station straddles the mountain a few km to the south-east, and with skiers passing through the town by bus instead of visiting, the future of the tourism sector in Igls is uncertain. Restaurants and night life have reduced their opening hours to compensate for the lack of patrons, but travellers with a keen eye can profit from the reduced demand for accommodation as hotel prices

Getting there

By tram

Tram 6 connects 1 Igls Bahnhof to 2 Bergisel in Innsbruck. The route is very scenic, as the tram meanders through the pine forests and offers travelers a great view over Innsbruck. Bergisel is a 2-min walk away from 3 Innsbruck Stubaital Bahnhof.

By bus Bus J passes through Igls on the way to the Patcherkofel Talstation. Get off at 4 Igls Ortsmitte. Alternatively, take bus 4141 and get off at 5 Altes Rathaus.

Getting around

Igls is small enough to get around by foot. To get to the 1 Patcherkofel Talstation, take bus J direction Igls Patscherkofel and get off at the terminus station where the entrance of the Patscherkofelbahn is to your left.

See

1 Heiligwasser Pilgrimage Church (Heiligwasserkirche) (Patscherkofelbahn). The Heiligwasser (literally "Holy Water" in German) pilgrimage is on the slope of the Patscherkofel mountain at an altitude of 1234 m, following a path of 10 chapels of which 5 remain. According to the legend, an angel appeared to 2 peasants searching for lost cattle in 1606, and showed them the way to a spring where they found their cattle. In return, the angel commanded a chapel to be built next to the spring, an undertaking completed by the bishop of Brixen. The site soon became a destination for pilgrims, and in 1661 a church was built to replace the chapel, in which a first religious service was held a year later. Halfway the 18th century, the church was expanded with a side chapel, and buildings around the church were constructed to accommodate the needs of pilgrims, who attribute healing effects to the spring's water. Of particular interest is the churches 3-sided choir with hexagonal choir tower and typical onion shaped roof. The portal is decorated with a fresco from 1743. The ceiling frescoes were added in 1945 by Hans Andre. The Baroque high altar dates from the first half of the 15th century but was stolen in 1971 and replaced with its current copy. Free. (updated Oct 2018)

2 Goldbichl. 24/7. One of the most important archaeological sites in Tyrol, Goldbichl is a 1064 m tall hill which was used as a place of worship in the Bronze Age. The oldest finds at the site are flint arrowheads from the Neolithic period, originating from Verona, and proving that long distance trade was possible in that era. The hill gained importance in the Bronze age, 4 millennia ago, when sacrificial fires were lighted on altars made of clay and stone, which were visible from afar in the Stubai Valley looking out over the deforested hill. Remains of residences and gardens were found on the northern side of the hill, built on terraces separated from the religious sites by ramparts. The terraces are still r

Do

Igls is best known for its Olympic facilities for alpine skiing and bobsleigh competitions. With 18 km of slopes, it also has a lot to offer to casual skiers who can explore the Patscherkofel mountain ski area with the brand new Patscherkofelbahn ski lift.

1 Alpengarten Patscherkofel, Zirbenweg 11 (walking distance from the Patscherkofelbahn). Jun-Sep 09:00-17:00. An exceptional collection of rare plants and flowers in Austria's highest alpine garden at an altitude of 2,000 m, the 15 000 m² garden is taken care of by the University of Innsbruck. In addition to native alpine flowers such as Edelweiss and Gentian, there are several species from the Himalayas to admire as well. Founded in the 1930s, the garden aims to preserve species that have disappeared in the wild. Visitors can follow a circular path along the gardens many trees, shrubs, grasses and flowers. Free. (updated Sep 2018) 2 The Rung Thai Massage, Bilgerstrasse 9 (walking distance from the Igls historic centre), ☏ +43 676 3329507, [email protected]. M-Sa 11:00-22:00. The best way to relieve tensed muscles after a day of skiing, massages are available from 30 min to 90 min. €25/30 min. (updated Sep 2018) 3 Olympic Sliding Centre (Olympia Eiskanal), Heiligwasserwiese 1, ☏ +43 512 377160, [email protected]. 08:00-18:00 daily. Built in 1975, this 1270 m long bobsleigh track was the first in the world constructed with supplemental artificial refrigeration to make the track usable year round. With a height difference of 100 m, 14 curves and a refrigerated surface of 5500 m², the track descends the Patscherkofel mountain with curves up to 7 m high. It is used for training purposes, and last used in the 2012 Winter Olympics. (updated Oct 2018) 4 Olympia Golf, Badhausstraße 60b, ☏ +43 512-379150, [email protected]. Golf course between Igls and the Patscherkofelbahn (updated Oct 2018)

Winter sports Igls is most popular to travelers as a ski resort in winter, thanks to the Patscherkofel

Buy

1 Intersport, Römerstraße 81, ☏ +43 512 319361, [email protected]. 8:30-17:00 daily. Store specialized in mountaineering equipment for winter and summer. Although they're likely on the expensive side if you seek to buy your ski gear here, their location next to the Patscherkofel Talstation makes them a convenient solution if you happen to