Description of the attraction
Maria Theresa street is one of the most important streets in the Tyrolean city of Innsbruck. It begins at the intersection of Marktgraben and Burggraben streets, continuing the more ancient Duke Friedrich Street, which runs through the Old Town. It itself ends with the Arc de Triomphe. The total length of the street does not exceed 500 meters.
Maria Theresa street appeared a century after the founding of Innsbruck - at the end of the 13th century. Then the city went beyond the boundaries of its historical center (Old Town) and also occupied the land that belonged to the Wilten Monastery located two kilometers away. This part became known as the New City. Previously, on the site of the present-day Arc de Triomphe, there was a second city gate that defined the border between Innsbruck and Wilten.
During the Middle Ages, as a rule, workshops of artisans were located in the New Town, and then - the first manufactories. These buildings were mostly made of wood and therefore they were all almost completely destroyed in the fire of 1620. Among the old buildings that have survived from that era, only the Church of the Holy Spirit, built at the beginning of the XIV century, can be noted. However, it was rebuilt in the Baroque style in the 1700s. At the same time - in the 17th-18th centuries - more and more luxurious mansions and palaces were built on Maria Theresa Street, made in the currently dominant Baroque and Rococo styles.
In 1897, the city administration moved to Maria Theresa Street, and in 1905 a city tram line was built. Now this street is especially popular with tourists. Firstly, many ancient sights have been preserved here, such as the Old Landhaus, the Column of St. Anne, the Monastery of St. Joseph of the 16th century and others. And secondly, this street houses several modern shopping centers, passages and galleries, where you can not only enjoy shopping, but also have a delicious lunch.
