The armory, built by order of Emperor Maximilian I in 1500-1505 on the banks of the Sill River, was for a long time used exclusively for military purposes. Various types of weaponry were stored here – cannons and firearms. The historic Zeughaus Museum now occupies the building.
At the beginning of the 16th century, Innsbruck became the center of the Austrian military industry after a foundry was built in the suburb of Mühlau in 1503. At the same time, Innsbruck turned into a major transport hub linking the Tyrolean mines with production facilities.
The construction of the arsenal was part of a large militaristic project. The complex is exceptionally functional – it is an ensemble of simply shaped buildings consisting of a pair of two-story wings with guardhouses. The buildings are connected to each other by narrow covered passageways, and in the middle there is a large inner courtyard.
The Zeughaus Museum is a подразделение of the Ferdinandeum Museum. It opened in 1973, after restoration work carried out in the armory in 1964-1969. Its special feature is that the exhibits displayed to the public here are mainly related to military affairs, industry, and technology. While viewing the exhibitions, you can learn in detail, for example, about the operation of silver mines or salt extraction. The Tyrolean Uprising of 1809 and the history of the two World Wars are also described here.
