blog

Willkommen auf INCE-bruck!

09.19.2013 | HMMH |

Sunday, September15, 2013

Innsbruck Aldstadt (Old Town)

 

The understanding of Innsbruck that many Americans of my generation have begins and ends with the 1976 Winter Olympics:  Franz Klammer, Jim McKay, and Dorothy Hammil (yup, I had her famous wedge haircut).

Dorothy Hammil, 1976

 

Didn’t think much of it again until I was invited to speak at the 2013 Internoise Conference.  So here I am, getting ready to attend the “Opening Ceremonies”, after spending a day as tourist.  I’d recommend:

  • Tiroler Volkskunstmuseum (Tyrolean Regional Heritage Museum): features a collection of folk art and displays of Austrian living in the 15th-18th century.  I was most intrigued by a current exhibition entitled “Dreck” (Dirt), which focused on cleanliness and hygiene as a social ideal (indeed, teutonic fastidiousness with hygiene was something I noticed upon my first visit to Austria, when most toilets were still of the “shelf toilet” variety).
  • Aldstadt:  the Old Town, with pretty pastel buildings, Alps in the background, and lots of touristy shops, in case you’re in need of some new leiderhosen.
  • Theresienkirche: at the top of a mountain, in the “Hunger District”.  The church has several frescoes by Max Weiler, including this one depicting Tyroleans at the crucifixion:

 

 

Herz-Jesu-Sonne, 1947
Source: Die Hungerburger Theresienkirche

 

More later.  When the action starts.