Leslie Massey
Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, with a population of around 9 million. The country's landscape is characterised by mountains and forests, with the Austrian Alps forming the physical backbone of the country. The western Austrian states of Vorarlberg, Tirol, and Salzburg are known for their majestic mountains and magnificent scenery. The region is a popular destination for skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts, with numerous ski resorts located in the area. The city of Innsbruck, surrounded by mountains and home to beautiful architecture, is a notable destination in western Austria.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Total area | 83,879 km2 (32,386 sq mi) or 83,871 km2 (32,383 sq mi) |
| World region | Central Europe |
| Borders | Germany, Italy, Hungary, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia |
| Number of states | 9 |
| Capital | Vienna |
| Population | 9 million |
| Landscape | Predominantly mountainous, with 47% forest cover and 62% of the country's total area made up of the Eastern Alps |
| Westernmost point | River Rhine at the border of Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein |
| Western states | Vorarlberg, Tirol, Salzburg |
| Western ski resorts | Ski Arlberg, Skicircus |
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What You'll Learn
The states of Vorarlberg, Tirol and Salzburg
Vorarlberg, located in far western Austria, is the country's westernmost state. It is bounded on the north by Bavaria, Germany, and Lake Constance (Bodensee), on the west by Switzerland (across the Rhine River) and Liechtenstein, on the south by Switzerland, and on the east (over the Arlberg Pass) by Tirol. Vorarlberg is mountainous, with two-thirds of the state situated above 1,000m elevation. The region is drained by the Ill River and the Bregenzer River, and its principal towns include Bregenz (the capital), Dornbirn, Feldkirch, Bludenz, and Lustenau. Vorarlberg has the second-smallest geographical area and population in Austria, but it is the state with the second-highest population density.
Tirol, also known as Tyrol, is an Austrian federal state that comprises the Austrian part of the historical Princely County of Tyrol. The capital of Tyrol is Innsbruck, and the state is divided into nine districts, one of which, Innsbruck, is a statutory city. There are 277 municipalities in the state. The two constituent parts of Tyrol are the northern and larger North Tyrol (which borders Vorarlberg to the west) and the southeastern and smaller East Tyrol. The state is entirely within the Eastern Alps at the Brenner Pass, and the highest mountain in the federal state is the Großglockner, which is also the highest mountain in Austria.
Salzburg is a federal state of Austria that borders North Tyrol to the west and Carinthia to the east. The state is located within the Eastern Alps, and its highest mountain is part of the Hohe Tauern range on the border with Carinthia.
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The city of Innsbruck
Innsbruck is a city in western Austria, specifically in the state of Tirol (or Tyrol). It is the capital of Tirol and the fifth-largest city in Austria, with a population of around 132,500 as of 2018. The city is located on the River Inn, at its junction with the Sill River and the Wipp Valley, which provides access to the Brenner Pass—a major transport route between the north and south of Europe. The name "Innsbruck" means "bridge over the Inn", referring to its location at an important crossing point over the Inn river.
Innsbruck has a long history, with traces of initial inhabitation dating back to the early Stone Age. The first mention of the city dates back to 1180, when it was known as Oeni Pontum or Oeni Pons, the Latin version of its name. At this time, it was a small market town belonging to the Bavarian counts of Andechs. Due to its strategic position at the junction of major trade routes, the town developed rapidly. Innsbruck was chartered in 1239 and passed to the Habsburgs in 1363. In 1420, it became the capital of Tirol and the ducal residence under Duke Frederick, known as "of the empty pockets".
Innsbruck played a significant role in European politics and culture during the 15th century, particularly when Emperor Maximilian I resided in the city in the 1490s. The city benefited from the emperor's presence, with several artistic monuments and buildings erected during this time, including the Hofkirche, which houses a funeral monument for Maximilian. Innsbruck continued to be an important administrative centre, with Archduke Ferdinand II of Austria receiving rulership over Tyrol and other Further Austrian possessions administered from the city until the 18th century.
Today, Innsbruck is a popular tourist destination and health resort, known for its winter sports centres. It has hosted the Olympic Winter Games twice, in 1964 and 1976, as well as the Winter Paralympics in 1984 and 1988. The city has a humid continental climate, with cold and snowy winters and highly variable summers. Innsbruck has a modern infrastructure and is easily accessible by public transport, making it a convenient location for congresses and company meetings.
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The Zillertal Alps
The Zillertal High Alpine Road is renowned for its beautiful panoramic views. The area is also a popular winter sports destination, with many ski resorts dotted across the Zillertal, including Gerlos, Mayrhofen, and Tux. The Tux Main Ridge is a popular ski area that includes the ancient Tuxer Joch mountain pass, linking the lower Ziller Valley to the north of the Brenner Pass. The Pfunderer Mountains, located within South Tyrol, contain several 3,000ers and boast the best Italian ski resorts in the Zillertal Alps, such as Gitschberg Jochtal.
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The Inn River valley
The valley is characterised by its natural landscape, with mountains and forests covering a significant portion of the area. Austria, in general, has a high forest cover, with around 47% of its land area consisting of forests in 2020. The Inn River valley, in particular, benefits from its location in the western Austrian states of Vorarlberg, Tirol, and Salzburg, which are known for their high Alpine character and breathtaking views.
The region has a rich history, dating back to pre-Roman times when various Celtic tribes settled in the area. The Celtic Kingdom of Noricum, which included most of modern-day Austria, was conquered by the Roman Empire in 16 BC and became the province of Noricum. The valley's location in the western part of Austria places it close to the country's borders with Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Today, the Inn River valley is easily accessible, with the Valley River Inn offering convenient parking and airport shuttle services for its guests.
Overall, the Inn River valley in western Austria offers a unique combination of natural beauty, historical significance, and modern amenities. With its majestic mountains, picturesque river, and a range of attractions, the valley is a popular destination for travellers seeking relaxation, outdoor activities, and cultural experiences.
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The Brenner Pass
The first Roman road to cross the Alpine range was the Via Claudia Augusta, which connected northern Italy with the Roman province of Raetia. This route did not cross the Brenner Pass, instead taking a western route through the Reschen Pass. The Roman road that physically crossed the Brenner Pass was not built until the 2nd century AD and took an "eastern" route through the Puster Valley. The Alamanni, a Germanic tribe, crossed the Brenner Pass into modern-day Italy in 268 AD but were defeated at the Battle of Lake Benacus.
During the High Middle Ages, the Brenner Pass was part of the important Via Imperii, an imperial road linking the Kingdom of Germany with the Italian March of Verona. In the Carolingian Divisio Regnorum of 806, the Brenner region was called per alpes Noricas, the transit through the Noric Alps. Emperor Frederick Barbarossa frequently used the Brenner Pass to cross the Alps during his imperial expeditions into Italy.
Modernisation of the Brenner Pass began in 1777 when a carriage road was laid out at the behest of Empress Maria Theresa. The Brenner Railway was completed in stages from 1853 to 1867 and was the first trans-Alpine railway without a major tunnel at high altitude. The completion of the railway enabled more efficient troop movement for the Austrians, although they lost the territories of Venetia and Lombardy to Italy following the Second Italian War of Independence in 1859 and the Austro-Prussian War in 1866.
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Frequently asked questions
The area in western Austria is called Vorarlberg, which is one of the nine federal states of Austria.
Vorarlberg is characterised by majestic mountains and magnificent scenery of the high Alps. It is one of the greatest areas for skiing in the Austrian Alps.
Tyrol, Salzburg, and Carinthia are also western Austrian states.
