After exploring Kufstein in Austria (on the border with Germany) and its castle, I visited Innsbruck, which is just down the road and in the Tyrol/Tirol region. Innsbruck is noted for its winter sports and has a skiing resort on the mountains above the city, which can be seen from the city. It has hosted the Winter Olympics and Paralympics. It is also the home of Swarovski crystal glass company, which is located nearby with a crystal glass experience located in Innsbruck itself. Unfortunately, we did not get to go to that or take a ride on the cable car up to the mountain, but we did get to explore the Christmas market. One of the Christmas trees in the market is actually made with the Swarovski crystals.
Innsbruck has wonderful mountain views from the city with wonderful photograph opportunities, such as the one below with the government building off Wilhelm-Greil-Straße.
The Triumph Arc below that is another monument that frames the snow-capped mountains nicely.
Unfortunately, it grew darker before we could check out the Christmas market with the snow-capped mountains behind it, but I could still see the lights from the ski lodges on the mountain above in the darkness.
We had dinner at an Austrian restaurant before exploring some of the old town and the Christmas market. Like the German Christmas markets, all types of items can be bought here from crafts to cooked food to mulled wine to Christmas decorations. It has a wonderful atmosphere with a large Christmas tree, Rathaus and decorated buildings, such as the building with the golden roof. Unfortunately, I was only able to see these in the dark so could not get any impressive photographs.
One of the charms of Innsbruck we noticed were large giant puppets and sculptures on the top above the doorways of buildings depicting giants and fairy tales. The "Fairy Tale and Giant's Alley" is a treat showing several characters dressed as giants or fairy tales. I spotted 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarves' and 'Rapunzel', but there were so many more to find along the way and in unexpected places if bothering to look up.
The Christmas market also promises other activities and horse/pony rides through the town, so it was a shame that we arrived too late to also take advantage of this. I may have to go back.
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