Hötting
Hotting, which lies on the northern slopes of the Nordkette mountain range, is north of the Old Town. Surrounding this residential area with both contemporary and classic homes is a lot of open space. Hotting is a heaven for nature lovers with its handy access to cable cars, ski resorts, and hiking trails. From Hotting, the valley and the city below are breathtakingly visible. Though it does feature a few local businesses, bars, and restaurants, hotting is not especially touristy or active. Far from the busy city center, staying here will give you the peace and quiet you need.
History of Hötting
Originally referred to as “the people of Hoto,” or “hotinga,” Hötting was named in a document dated 788 AD. It was a separate municipality till Innsbruck absorbed it and numerous nearby towns in 1938. Strategically located between Innsbruck, the Upper Inn Valley, and the Seefeld Saddle, the town of Hötting was a prominent economic and agricultural center. Along this road, important sites were the Inn Bridge, the Allerheiligenhöfe, the Höttinger Gasse (now Schneeburggesse). Beginning in the 13th century, the ancient street known as Höttinger Gasse boasts many historical homes and businesses.
Hötting is also culturally and religiously important given its several houses of worship. Records starting in 1286 mentioned the former Höttinger church, built in late Gothic and subsequently baroque styles. It has a bell and clock tower, a breathtaking altar, frescoes covering the ceiling, Opening in 1911, the neo-Gothic façade and neo-Romanesque interior of the historicist-style new Höttinger church reflect their opening year Showcasing Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of Hötting, is a stained glass window Popular stop for hikers and pilgrims, the Höttinger Bild pilgrimage chapel is housed in the woods above Hötting. Built in 1629 after the Virgin Mary’s miraculous figure was found on a tree was discovered, The church boasts an altarpiece in baroque style showing the Madonna and Child.
Geography and Demography of Hötting
Hötting is north of the Inn cadastral community and locality in Innsbruck, northwest of the city center. At the base of the Nordkette, a mountain range part of the Karwendel Alps. It covers not only the statistical areas of Hötting, Höttinger Au, and Hötting West but also part of Hungerburg. The cadastral municipality of Hötting includes a good portion of the Nordkette and sections of the Gleirschtal, a side valley of the Hinterautal east of Scharnitz.
From the fertile and level Inn valley to the rocky Nordkette hills and the high, wooded Gleirschtal, Hötting boasts a great range of settings. There are a lot of outdoor activities there ranging from trekking to riding, skiing to climbing. Among Hötting’s several attractions are the Innsbruck Alpine Zoo, the largest alpine zoo in Europe with more than 2000 Alps-dwelling species; the Nordkette cable car, which provides amazing views of Innsbruck and its environs from the city center to the Seegrube and the Hafelekar; the Höttinger Alm, a traditional alpine hut serving regional cuisine and beverages; and the Frau Hitt, a rock formation said to have resembled a woman mounted on a horse, according to urban legend.
Hötting, in an area around 45 km2, houses more than 16,000 souls. One of Innsbruck’s most densely populated areas, with 355 people per square kilometer One of the most different districts as well; over twenty percent of the population is foreign, especially from Turkey, Germany, and Italy. With 11% under the age of 15 and 19% above the age of 65, Hötting has pretty even age distribution. Hötting boasts both urban and country lifestyles; some areas are more modern and developed while others are more rural and traditional.
Cultural and Historical Sites
Being an independent municipality until 1938, Hötting boasts a rich cultural and historical legacy and has kept many of its old structures and customs intact. You can visit several historical and cultural attractions in Hötting including:
- Standing from the 13th century, the Old Parish Church (Alte Pfarrkirche) is the first church in Hötting. Its ceiling is frescoed, it features a Baroque altar and a Gothic tower. It is situated in the lovely village vibe of Hötting’s old town center.
- Built in 1911 in the historicist manner, the New Parish Church (Neue Pfarrkirche) is the more recent church in Hötting. Its internal is neo-Romanesque and its front is neo-Gothic. A stained glass window there shows Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of Hötting.
- Built in 1629 following a miraculous image of the Virgin Mary discovered on a tree, the modest chapel known as the Höttinger Bild Pilgrimage Chapel is situated above Hötting in the woods. The chapel boasts a Madonna and Child artwork as well as a Baroque altar. Both pilgrims and hikers frequent this site.
- One of the first buildings in Hötting, the Ottoburg is a residential tower erected in 1494. Its Renaissance oriel window and Gothic gateway reflect its Now it’s a restaurant and a museum with some historical relics and authentic Tyrolean food on offer.
- Built in 1532, the Deutschordenshaus (House of the Teutonic Order) was formerly Hötting’s seat of Teutonic Order. Its chapel is Baroque and its front shows Renaissance elements. These days, it’s a cultural center and a nursing home where you could see several events and displays.
Natural and Recreational Sites
Being at the base of the Nordkette, a mountain range included in the Karwendel Alps, Hötting is also blessed with a stunning natural surroundings. Along the Inn river, it features several green spots where one may unwind and take in the sights. In Hötting, you can explore some of the natural and leisurely places including:
- Among the most unusual sites in Hötting, the Innsbruck mountain Zoo is the biggest mountain zoo in Europe. It keeps more than 2000 Alpine species including bears, wolves, lynxes, eagles, and marmots. Discover their habitats, activities, and conservation initiatives; meanwhile, take in the expansive vistas of the mountains and the city.
- From the city center to the Seegrube and the Hafelekar, where you can savor amazing views of Innsbruck and the surrounding Alps, the Nordkette Cable Car transports you Depending on the season and your inclination, you can also access mountain bike paths, ski slopes, and some hiking paths.
- Serving local food and beverages including cheese, bacon, bread, and schnapps, the Höttinger Alm is a classic alpine cabin. Rising at 1487 meters, it is on the southern edge of the Nordkette. Hikers and bikers frequent this site since they may take in the picturesque views and the comfortable environment.
- According to a mythology, this rock formation seems to a woman riding a horse. Rising 2270 meters on the northern edge of the Nordkette, it is Climbers who can reach it by a steep and exposed path will find it a challenge as well as a monument of Hötting.
- Eastern of Scharnitz, the Gleirschtal is a side valley of the Hinterautal under the cadastral municipality of Hötting. There are some alpine meadows, forests, streams, and peaks in this far-off and untamed territory. For adventurers and environmentalists who can explore it on foot, on bike, or by ski, this is a heaven.
