Triumphal Arch Innsbruck

Also known as Triumphpforte

A triumphal arch at the southern end of Maria-Theresien-Strasse, built in 1765 to commemorate the marriage of Archduke Leopold and simultaneously mourn the death of Emperor Francis I. The south side celebrates the wedding, the north side mourns the death. It marks the transition from the Maria-Theresien-Strasse shopping area to the Altstadt.

Innsbruck’s Triumphal Arch at the south end of Maria-Theresien-Strasse is the only arch in Europe with celebration on one face and mourning on the other. It was built in 1765 for Archduke Leopold’s wedding; Emperor Francis I died unexpectedly during the festivities, and the monument was redesigned to carry both stories. The south face shows wedding imagery; the north face shows funeral urns and draped mourning figures. Free and outdoor; walk through and turn around to compare both faces. The detail is easy to miss if you don’t know what you’re looking for.