Kulturgasthaus Bierstindl

The Kulturgasthaus Bierstindl is an inn and event venue in Innsbruck’s Wilten neighborhood.The structure is located at the foot of the Bergisel, below the Bergisel ski jump, between the old Brenner road, the Brenner railway, and the Sill Gorge entrance.

A Modest Brewery at the Foot of the Bergisel

The Kulturgasthaus Bierstindl is situated at the foot of the Bergisel, a hill that overlooks the city of Innsbruck and is famous for its ski jump. The inn is surrounded by the old Brenner road, the Brenner railway, and the Sill Gorge entrance, making it a strategic location for travelers and traders. The current structure of the inn may be traced back to the 18th century, when it served as a modest overnight stay and brewery for the people passing by. The name Bierstindl, which means “beer barrel”, is attributed to one of the proprietors in the 18th century, a certain Stocker, who was also known as Stindl. The inn was once owned by the Wilten Abbey, a Benedictine monastery that was founded in the 12th century. The inn is now a listed structure, meaning that it is protected by the law as a cultural heritage.

A Famous Folk Drama with a Splatter Twist

The Kulturgasthaus Bierstindl gained fame in the decades following WWII as the setting for the famous folk drama Der rogue Kuno von Drachenfels by the Innsbrucker Ritterspiele theatrical group. The play, which was written by Josef Leitgeb and directed by Hans Putzer, tells the story of a rogue knight named Kuno, who terrorizes the people of Innsbruck and is eventually captured and executed by the emperor. The play is known for its humorous and satirical tone, as well as its violent climax, where the main character is decapitated with the audience’s active participation. The audience would shout “no amal!” (“do it again!”) and “da capo!” (“from the beginning!”) until the actor playing Kuno would lose his head, literally. The play was a type of early splatter, a genre that features excessive gore and bloodshed. The play was performed every summer from 1950 to 1980, attracting thousands of spectators and tourists.

A Cabaret Venue with a Diverse Program

Since 1992, the Kulturgasthaus Bierstindl has also served as a cabaret venue, a location for readings, a venue for CD presentations, and a venue for slam poetry. The inn has hosted many local and international artists, such as Josef Hader, Alfred Dorfer, Gerhard Polt, Stermann & Grissemann, and many others. The inn has also been a platform for emerging talents and young writers, who have showcased their works and competed in poetry slams. The inn has been praised for its diverse and high-quality cultural program, as well as its cozy and friendly atmosphere. However, due to financial difficulties, the cultural activities were halted at the end of 2010, and the future of the Bierstindl became uncertain. The inn was saved by the Bavarian Edith-Haberland-Wagner Foundation, which took over the Bierstindl in March 2011 with the intention of sustaining the restaurant and cultural activities. The inn was later purchased and restored by the owners of the Stiftskeller, another historic inn in Innsbruck. On May 21, 2014, the Kulturgasthaus Bierstindl reopened its doors to the public, offering a new menu, a new look, and a new spirit.

Innsbruck, Austria