Ambras Castle is one of Tyrol's most treasured landmarks — a Renaissance residence perched on a hill above Innsbruck, surrounded by a sprawling park full of historic curiosities. This is where a medieval fortress was transformed into an elegant palace by Archduke Ferdinand II, who established here one of the world's first museums.

Sitting at 654 metres above sea level, the castle offers lovely views over the Inn valley and the surrounding mountains. The park, laid out in the style of an English landscape garden, invites visitors to stroll among old trees, past a large pond and an artificial waterfall fed by a branch of the Aldranser Bach stream. In summer, the shade of the trees and the coolness of the Bacchus Grotto offer welcome relief from the heat, while in winter snow lends the buildings and surrounding walls a romantic charm.

How to get there

• Innsbruck, Amras district — take tram line 6 or the Innsbrucker Mittelgebirgsbahn to Tummelplatz stop, then a short walk, easy
• Walking route from Innsbruck city centre through the Amras district — approx. 45–60 min, easy

Practical information

• The castle houses the Kunsthistorisches Museum – Schloss Ambras Innsbruck, part of the Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien
• It contains the only Renaissance Kunst- und Wunderkammer (cabinet of curiosities) still preserved in its original location
• The park is managed by the Österreichische Bundesgärten and has been a protected monument since 2007
• Highlights include the Bacchus Grotto, the Keuchengarten and the Venetian Fountain

Fun fact: in the Bacchus Grotto, guests were once seated in a trick chair with hidden mechanical arms that held them fast until they finished a welcome cup of wine — today it's one of the most fascinating pieces in the castle's collection.