Hill south of the Old Town where Andreas Hofer's Tyrolean militia defeated Bavarian-French forces in the Bergisel battles of 1809, now home to the Tirol Panorama museum with its giant circular painting and the Zaha Hadid ski jump used at the 1964 and 1976 Winter Olympics.
Bergisel is a wooded hill south of the Old Town of Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria, at Bergisel 1-2. In 1809 it was the scene of four battles between Tyrolean militia under Andreas Hofer and Bavarian troops allied to Napoleonic France. The Tyroleans won three of the four engagements, including the battles of 25 May, 29 May, 13 August and 1 November 1809, which kept Innsbruck briefly in Tyrolean hands. After the final defeat in November, Hofer was captured and executed in Mantua in February 1810. The hill remains a place of memory, with a monument to Hofer and a statue site, and it is closely tied to the Tyrolean sense of identity.
The Tirol Panorama museum stands on the hill and houses a giant circular painting of the Bergisel battle of 13 August 1809. The panorama, painted in 1896 by Michael Zeno Diemer and his team, measures about 1,000 square metres and is displayed in a cylindrical rotunda. The museum also contains an exhibition on Tyrolean history and the Tyrolean identity, organised by theme rather than strict chronology. The painting was moved from its former home in Innsbruck to the Bergisel site and restored for the new Tirol Panorama building, which opened in 2011.
The Bergisel Ski Jump was rebuilt in 2002 to a design by architect Zaha Hadid, replacing earlier structures that had hosted ski jumping at the 1964 and 1976 Winter Olympic Games and the Four Hills Tournament. The new tower combines a stadium, a cafe and a viewing platform, reached by funicular and lift, with views over Innsbruck and the Nordkette. The site thus layers three periods: the Napoleonic-era battlefield, the 19th-century panorama tradition, and modern sports architecture. The Kaiserjägermuseum is located nearby.
| Admission | Ski jump about EUR 11-12 (~$13-14) with lift to the tower, half price for children; Tirol Panorama priced separately |
|---|---|
| Hours | Ski jump: generally 9:00-18:00 June-October and 9:00-17:00 November-May (verify at bergisel.info); Tirol Panorama has its own hours (verify at tiroler-landesmuseen.at) |
| Address | Bergisel 1-2, 6020 Innsbruck |
Why it matters
Bergisel was the site of the four battles of 1809 in which Andreas Hofer's Tyrolean militia fought Bavarian and French forces. It became a national symbol of Tyrolean resistance and later hosted Winter Olympic ski jumping in 1964 and 1976.
Location
Bergisel 1-2, 6020 Innsbruck
47.2489, 11.3992 View on map
Highlights
- The 1896 Bergisel panorama painting in the Tirol Panorama rotunda
- Zaha Hadid's ski jump tower and viewing platform
- Hofer monument and the 1809 battlefield hill
- Views of Innsbruck and the Nordkette
Tips for visiting
- Take the funicular and lift to the ski jump tower for the best city views.
- Allow time for the Tirol Panorama and the Kaiserjägermuseum on the same hill.
- Check the ski jump hours, which vary by season.
- The Innsbruck Card may cover some of the attractions.
When to visit
Clear days give the best views from the tower. Summer ski-jump events and winter competitions add to the atmosphere.
Accessibility
The ski jump tower is reached by lift and funicular, and the Tirol Panorama is a modern building. Check each venue for current access details.
Visit, book or contact
Frequently asked questions
How long does a visit take?
Allow about two to three hours to combine the ski jump and the Tirol Panorama.
Is the site English-language friendly?
The Tirol Panorama typically provides English-language guides and texts.
Can the site be visited with kids?
Yes, the ski jump tower and the large panorama painting tend to appeal to children.