Bergisel Ski Jump

The Bergisel Ski Jump stands on a hill at Bergisel 1-2 in the Wilten district of Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria, and has hosted ski jumping at two Winter Olympics, in 1964 and 1976, as well as the Four Hills Tournament stop each New Year. The current structure was designed by Zaha Hadid and opened in 2002, replacing an earlier tower with a sculptural design of a concrete and steel tower whose glass-fronted head resembles a sleek pointed form leaning over the slope. Visitors reach the tower by a funicular, which runs up the length of the in-run, and then take a lift to the top, where a viewing platform overlooks the town, the Inn Valley and the Nordkette peaks. Looking down the in-run from the start gate gives a vivid sense of what jumpers face, and the athletes' viewpoint is the most memorable photograph. At the top, the Bergisel Sky cafe-restaurant serves food with the same panorama through large windows. At the foot of the hill, the surrounding Bergisel area has historical significance as the site of the 1809 battles in which Tyrolean forces under Andreas Hofer fought Bavarian and French troops, with a memorial and a nearby museum complex for the Kaiserjäger and the Tyrolean freedom struggles. A visit to the jump takes one to one and a half hours, including the funicular ride, the tower, and time at the platform. Late afternoon is attractive for light on the Nordkette, and the early morning is quietest, with groups appearing around midday in summer. During competitions or training days, access can be restricted and the atmosphere is lively, so checking the event schedule on bergisel.info is advisable. Admission is about EUR 11 to 12 for the lift to the tower, with a reduced price for children, and entry is included in the Innsbruck Card. Tram line 1 stops at Bergisel, and the walk up from the stop takes several minutes, so comfortable shoes are useful.