Ottoburg

The Ottoburg stands as a sturdy, five-story tower at the corner of the Old Town, identifiable by its jagged, unpainted stone walls and the small, recessed windows that seem to burrow into the masonry. Built in the late twelfth century, it served as a defensive fortification protecting the western entrance to the medieval city. By the fifteen hundreds, the tower transformed into a private residence, later housing a tavern that has operated for centuries. It remains a rare survivor of Innsbruck’s original fortification system.