The Innsbruck Arsenal is located just outside the Old Town, i.e. about a kilometre from the Hofburg palace complex. This powerful old building was built in the years 1500-1505. It now houses one of the branches of the Tyrolean National Museum, in particular the Tyrolean Museum of Natural History and Science and Technology.
The origin of the arsenal building itself is particularly noteworthy. It was built on the banks of the River Zill, a tributary of the larger Inn waterway on which Innsbruck itself stands. Interestingly, in those days, the city's boundary was located on this spot, and one of the city gates stood near the arsenal.
At the same time - that is, at the beginning of the XVI century - the Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I turned Innsbruck into a major commercial and industrial centre, as it was located exactly between the arms manufactories in the neighbouring village of Mühlau and copper mines. Already in 1503 the town arsenal contained about 150 cannons.
The building itself is characterised by very thick walls, more typical of medieval fortresses. It consists of two floors and several wings that connect to each other in such a way that a small courtyard is formed in the very centre of this architectural complex, decorated with austere arcaded galleries on the ground floor.
The arsenal was used as a barracks even after the abolition of the monarchy - after 1918. However, between 1964 and 1969, the building was thoroughly reconstructed and given to the Tyrolean National Museum. There are now several exhibitions in the armoury, but unfortunately the underground floor was badly damaged by a flood in 1985. However, the courtyard of the arsenal museum hosts various colourful festivals and open-air concerts in the summer.
