Attraction Cathedral of St. James

St. Jakob Cathedral was first mentioned in historical records as early as 1180. Today, it remains one of the most important pilgrimage sites along the Way of St. James.

Description

The Innsbruck Cathedral— as St. Jakob’s Cathedral is often called—was first mentioned as early as 1180. Since then, it has stood majestically above the rooftops of Innsbruck and has been part of the most important medieval Christian pilgrimage route —the Way of St. James.
The cathedral complex, which was severely damaged by an earthquake in the 16th and 17th centuries, was rebuilt between 1717 and 1724. Even the famous German painter Albrecht Dürer admired the impressive appearance of this significant sacred building and immortalized it in a well-known watercolor.

Home to significant works of art
Today, the unmistakable sound of the cathedral’s bells draws visitors from all over the world into its magnificent interiors. There, High Baroque ceiling frescoes by Cosmas Damian Asam depict scenes from the life of St. James.
Munich-born Ägid Quirin Asam created a unique setting with his characteristic stucco work from that period. The highlight is the significant work of art by Lukas Cranach the Elder—the miraculous image “Maria Hilf” became the most popular image of the Virgin Mary in the Alps and has been copied countless times throughout the world.
It originally came from Dresden and was presented as a gift by Archduke Leopold V to Innsbruck Cathedral in 1650.
In the left side aisle, visitors can admire the tomb of Archduke Maximilian III. This much-praised bronze sculpture, created by Hubert Gerhard and his student Caspar Gras, was cast by Heinrich Reinhard as early as 1619. Rulers and canonesses enjoyed the best view of the church’s spectacular interior from the galleries in the choir, which are directly connected to the adjacent Hofburg.

Sacred sounds fill Innsbruck
In addition to the organ in the west gallery, which has 3,729 pipes and 57 stops, the Mariahilf Bell also rings out. The second-largest bell in Tyrol , cast in 1846 by the historic Grassmayr bell foundry in Innsbruck, is the Mariahilf Bell.
The Innsbruck Peace Carillon can be heard daily at noon. It comprises 57 bells, is the largest carillon in Austria, and weighs a total of over 4,100 kilograms. The south tower houses seven additional bells from the Grassmayr foundry.


Accessibility information: St. Jakob’s Cathedral is partially accessible. The large entrance doors are accessible via a metal ramp that is slightly steeper than six degrees. As with many historic churches, the doors are quite heavy, but access is generally possible for wheelchair users.