bildschirmfoto-2021-09-05-um-21.43.52-e1630871159339

Bergiselfest for the whole family

09 September 2021

Post originally written in: Italiano

One of the most popular destinations for Sunday walks in Innsbruck is the Bergisel hill. Maybe because it can be reached quickly on foot from the city and from there you can enjoy a beautiful view. In my opinion Bergisel is a very suggestive place, where the ancient and the modern intertwine harmoniously.
There are two museums on the hill, the historic Kaiserjägermuseum - the museum of the imperial hunters - and Das Tirol Panorama - the very modern building that houses the large circular painting of the Battle of Bergisel in 1809. There is also a small park in the middle of which stands the Andreas Hofer monument and in the background the Urichhaus, a decidedly Tyrolean architecture, built in 1893 and originally the seat of the officers' club of the imperial hunters' corps, today mainly a venue for events. And then of course there is the ski jump, with its unmistakable shape designed by architect Zaha Hadid and which can be seen from practically every point in the city.

BERGISEL IN CELEBRATION....FOR A DOUBLE ANNIVERSARY

This year we celebrate at the Bergisel! While the Bergiselfest has been a tradition for some years now on the last Sunday before school starts, 2021 will be a special edition of the festival. What is there to celebrate? The 125th anniversary of the large circular painting (Das Riesenrundgemälde) and the 10th anniversary of the Das Tirol Panorama museum, where the panorama on canvas is displayed. About the museum and the painting I already wrote in this post, some years ago. A service information is that the ticket prices mentioned in this post from 2015 have increased slightly, but at Bergiselfest everything is free - except drinks at the bar of course :-).

WHAT YOU WILL FIND AT BERGISELFEST

The entire Bergisel area will be an open-air party with a rich and varied program. There is something for all ages, even the youngest children. In fact, you can try traditional wooden games, take part in creative workshops, challenge yourself with a giant memory game, have your face painted by Tyrolean animals. If you want to be a writer, you can compose your own poems at the "Poetry Shop" - although here, of course, a knowledge of German helps... If you want to discover the Das Tirol Panorama museum, there is a kind of fishing/treasure hunt and you can tie a sailor's knot at the Kaiserjägermuseum during the "Flottenbesuch" exhibition.

FOR THE QUIET ONES

After you've tried everything there is to do, you can relax on a deckchair in the park or borrow one of the picnic blankets provided for visitors and make yourself comfortable in the picnic area. There are also stands where you can get something to eat and drink. And of course there is music. TheSerles Ensemble, known for its never predictable repertoire - inspired by traditions, but not traditional - will create the right atmosphere. If you want to experience some thrills - as a spectator - you can also watch the athletes jumping from the ski jump: from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. there is a live show at the Bergisel Stadium.

A GUIDED TOUR NEVER HURTS

As I mentioned, admission to the two museums is free. And the various guides on the program are also free. Some tell about the history of Bergisel, others about the large circular painting. There are also guides to the "Flottenbesuch" exhibition dedicated to the Austrian Imperial Navy and others to the ski jump. Needless to say, the guides are in German. But for those who don't master the language there are other options. The free Tirol Panorama and Kaiserjägermuseum app is designed especially for children (but adults like it too, believe me!). Various characters accompany you on a journey through time in 8 tours of the two museums. And in many languages, because the app is available in Italian, English, French and Spanish, and of course in German. So bring your headphones!