Tyrol Panorama Museum

The Tirol Panorama is a museum in Innsbruck that showcases the history, culture, and identity of Tyrol, a region in the Alps that spans Austria and Italy. The museum is one of the five residences of the Tyrolean State Museums, and it is most known for housing the Innsbruck gigantic cyclorama, a monumental painting that depicts a pivotal battle in the Tyrolean War of 1809.

The Innsbruck Gigantic Cyclorama

The Innsbruck gigantic cyclorama is the main attraction of the Tirol Panorama. It is a circular painting that measures 1000 square meters and covers a wall that is 12 meters high and 120 meters long. The painting was created by Michael Zeno Diemer, a German artist who specialized in historical and landscape scenes, in 1896. The painting portrays the third Battle of Bergisel, which took place on August 13, 1809, between the Tyrolean rebels led by Andreas Hofer and the French and Bavarian troops under Marshal Lefebvre. The battle was part of the Tyrolean War of 1809, a rebellion against the Napoleonic occupation and the annexation of Tyrol by Bavaria.

The painting is a realistic and dramatic representation of the battle, showing the Tyrolean fighters in their traditional costumes, the French and Bavarian soldiers in their uniforms, the smoke and fire of the cannons and rifles, and the mountainous landscape of the region. The painting also features a 3D effect, as the foreground is composed of real objects, such as rocks, trees, weapons, and flags, that blend with the painted background. The painting is illuminated by natural and artificial light, creating a vivid and immersive experience for the viewers.

The painting was originally displayed in a specially built rotunda in Innsbruck, but it was moved to a new location in September 2010, as part of the renovation and expansion of the Tirol Panorama. The painting was transferred to the Bergisel hill, where the actual battle took place, and where a memorial and a museum dedicated to Andreas Hofer are also located. The painting is now housed in a modern glass and steel structure that offers a panoramic view of the city and the mountains.

The Schauplatz Tirol Exhibition

The Tirol Panorama also features a permanent exhibition called Schauplatz Tirol, which means “Stage of Tyrol” in German. The exhibition explores the “Myth of Tyrol”, a concept that refers to the collective identity and culture of the Tyrolean people, shaped by their history, geography, religion, and politics. The exhibition is divided into four thematic sections: Religion, Nature, Politics, and People. Each section displays various objects, documents, artworks, and multimedia that illustrate the different aspects of the Tyrolean life and heritage.

The Religion section showcases the role of faith and spirituality in the Tyrolean society, from the pre-Christian times to the present day. The section displays items such as a baroque pulpit, fresco plans for the Theresienkirche by Max Weiler, a contemporary Tyrolean artist, and a replica of the Holy Shroud of Turin, which was brought to Innsbruck by Archduke Ferdinand II in the 16th century.

The Nature section highlights the influence of the natural environment on the Tyrolean culture and economy. The section features a more than 40-meter-long exposition that includes, among other things, an antique Muttereralmbahn cable car gondola, stuffed animals such as a bear, lynx, or beaver, and a model of the Brenner Base Tunnel, the longest railway tunnel in the world, which connects Austria and Italy through the Alps.

The Politics section examines the political and social developments that have shaped the Tyrolean history and identity, from the medieval times to the modern era. The section displays items such as the horse’s head of the so-called “Aluminium Duce” monument in Bozen, a controversial statue of Benito Mussolini that was erected by the Fascist regime in South Tyrol, and Emperor Maximilian I’s priceless Landlibell from 1511, a document that granted the Tyrolean people the right to bear arms and defend their land.

The People section presents the diverse and colorful personalities and characters that have contributed to the Tyrolean culture and reputation. The section displays items such as the pipe of former governor Eduard Wallnöfer, a controversial figure who ruled Tyrol for 25 years, and a self-portrait of painter Anna Stainer-Knittel, also known as the “Sunflower Woman”, who became famous for her floral paintings and her remarkable life story.

The Kaiserjägermuseum

The Tirol Panorama is also connected to the Kaiserjägermuseum, another museum that is dedicated to the history of the Tyrolean Imperial Infantry, also known as the Kaiserjäger. The Kaiserjäger were a military unit that was formed in 1895 and fought in several wars, such as the First and Second World Wars. The museum displays uniforms, weapons, medals, photographs, and documents that tell the story of the Kaiserjäger and their role in the Tyrolean history. The museum is located underground, and visitors can access it through a tunnel that leads from the Schauplatz Tirol exhibition.

The Restaurant and the Mural

The Tirol Panorama also has a restaurant that offers a variety of dishes and drinks, as well as a stunning view of the city and the mountains. The restaurant also features a mural by Max Weiler, titled “Archduke Ferdinand II and Philippine Welser at Ambras Castle”. The mural depicts the 16th century couple who were the founders of the Tyrolean branch of the Habsburg dynasty. The mural was originally displayed in the dining room of the old Hotel Tyrol in Innsbruck from 1953 to 2000. The artwork weighs a ton, measures 28 square meters, and was disassembled into 24 distinct sections. The mural was relocated to the Tirol Panorama on February 21, 2011, and placed in the restaurant.

Innsbruck, Austria