Mühlau
Mühlau is a district that creatively blends history, variety, and environment. One may enjoy the beauty of the mountains and river, the culture of Tyrol and the globe, the charm of a village and the ease of a city, here.Perched on the northern slope of the Nordkette mountain range, it views the Inn river. Mühlau boasts a varied population, a rich past, and many attractions for both residents and tourists.
History of Mühlau
Mühlau gets its name from the German word “mill,” since it was originally home to numerous water mills beside the Mühlauer Bach, a creek running through the district and connecting the Inn. Originally attested in a document in 1180, Mühlau became an autonomous municipality in 1805. One of the first communities along the ancient road known as MARTHA, which connected Innsbruck with Hall, a nearby town well-known for its salt mines and mint,
Along with a few other nearby towns, Mühlau was taken over by Innsbruck 1938. It has been part of the city’s northwest edges since then, yet it still retains unique character and individuality. Among Innsbruck’s oldest structures, Mühlau boasts the Gothic church of St. Peter and Paul, standing at 619 meters above sea level and dating back to the 14th century. The church boasts frescoed ceiling, a rococo organ, and a baroque altar.
Demographics and Culture of Mühlau
With 2392 residents as of 2014 Mühlau is a vibrant and varied area. Covering 149.4 hectares, it features 384 buildings ranging from contemporary flats to old houses. With 13.1% of the people under the age of 15 and a cosmopolitan flare with 23.7% of the residents being foreigners, the district boasts a young and vibrant population. The Mühlauer Dorffest, a village festival honoring the local customs and food, and the Mühlauer Adventmarkt, a Christmas market featuring handcrafted goods and cuisine, are two of the various cultural events the region hosts all year long.
Attractions and Activities in Mühlau
Mühlau offers a variety of attractions and activities for visitors and locals alike. The district is a gateway to the Nordkette, a scenic mountain range that offers hiking, skiing, and panoramic views of the city and the Alps. The district also has a cable car station that connects Mühlau with Hungerburg, a higher-altitude village that is part of the district and has its own attractions, such as the Alpine Zoo, the highest zoo in Europe, and the Hungerburgbahn, a funicular railway that leads to the Seegrube and Hafelekar stations, where one can enjoy breathtaking vistas and winter sports.
Mühlau also has a vibrant urban scene, with several shops, cafes, restaurants, and bars that cater to different tastes and budgets. The district is home to the Olympisches Dorf, a residential complex that was built for the 1964 and 1976 Winter Olympics and now houses a shopping center, a cinema, a sports center, and a park. The district also has the Mühlau/Arzl industrial park, where one can find various businesses and services, such as a brewery, a bakery, a car dealership, and a recycling center.
