Through Lindau to the Innsbruck Christmas Market

Gasthof Erkheimer Landhaus, Erkheim, Germany

After another wonderful buffet breakfast, we say goodbye to Erkheimer Landhaus and take a different route, than planned, to the Innsbruck area.  Melissa checks the weather each morning and is worried about driving through the mountainous area south of Munich.  They were dumped on last night and they will continue to get snow all day.  We will head south on the A96 towards Lindau and then east on the A14 to Innsbruck. 

Frozen Sunflowers

As we drive out of Erkheim, we pass a friendly horse and frozen sunflowers.

The roads are clear and we stop to visit the market in Lindau only to find out their Christmas Market is only held on the weekends.  However, we decide to stretch our legs and take a walk through this lovely town.  The setting is on Lake Konstance.  Wandering the main pedestrian zone we come upon the town's beautiful Rathaus and many other beautiful buildings. 

The town hall, Rathaus, was built in 1422 originally Gothic and rebuilt in 1576 with a beautiful staircase in Renaissance style. The rear was lush historisierend decorated in the 19th century with painting, which represents the history of Lindauer.

Clock on Front of Rathaus

The façade on the pedestrian street, at the Bismarckplatz is also adorned by a large staircase (1587). 

Lindau Rathaus

 

There are lovely buildings and windows throughout the pedestrian zone of this lovely town.

Driving through eastern Austria is beautiful.  Unfortunately, our views are often inside of a tunnel.  We eventually arrive in Innsbruck.  Since our car is of German decent, our GPS will only give us directions to the city and not specific addresses in Austria.  We are a bit challenged at finding the city center.  Once there, we bundle up (it's about 17 degrees) and head to the three markets that are all in the same area of the city, Allstadt, and are within walking distance.

Engraved Wood Ornament

View of the Altstadt, The Old City, with the Goldenes Dachl (Golden Dome) on the Left

Christkindlmarkt on the River

The Innsbruck markets do not have many booths selling the typical German/Austrian decorations.  It is more of a craftsman type market.  The beautiful lights depicting Austrian crystal add a lot to the ambiance of this market.

Innsbruck Market

Lights Over Market Depicting a Crystal Chandelier

 

Along with the traditional Christmas market in Innsbruck, you can stroll through the Marchengasse, the Fairy Tale Road. On prominent places of the old town roads you will see against the dark night sky impressive scenes from renowned fairy tales.

 

Unique fairy tale pictures, pictured by life-sized figures, from different well known fairy tales were on display on facades, windows and different corners of the old town of Innsbruck. They were illuminated and their silhouettes against the night sky were beautiful. There were 23 pictures of fairy tales which fascinated the visitors, young and old, in the old town of Innsbruck. Here are only a few of the fairy tale groups that were on display: "Pinocchio," "The Valiant Little Tailor", "Frog King", "Max and Moritz", "Rumplestiltskin", "Shock-headed Peter," "Sleeping Beauty," "Snow White and the 7 dwarfs , "" Little red riding hood "," Cinderella ", and many more.

Fairy Tale Scenes on Building Facades

Once our toes got cold, we found our way back to the autobahn and drove to the hilltop town of Tulfes, up in the hills above Hall Tyrol.  We had reservations for two pensions tonight depending on the weather conditions.  Unterammergau was still getting heavy snow and the only way to get there was to drive over the Fernpass.  We did not feel comfortable driving in the dark on the pass and possibly over black ice, so we opted for our second choice, Tulfes, just outside of Hall of Tyrol.

After a short hill drive, we find Gasthof Neuwirt on the main street of the town next to a beautiful church.  Once again, we were going to dine in the restaurant downstairs.  However, it was full of smoke and didn't appeal to us.  We had a few snacks and then I went for my evening walk.  This town, high up in Tyrol, is small and quaint.  I walk past a small, roadside chapel and see the snow covered alps in the distance.  It is so quiet.  Down below is the town of Hall Tyrol twinkling in the dark.