Old Town of Hall in Tyrol

Today, Hall is the fifth largest city in Tyrol with just over 12,000 inhabitants. However, in the Middle Ages, Hall was at times more significant and larger than the provincial capital Innsbruck.

The basis of Hall's prosperity and rise was mining. Salt, the white gold, has been mined here since at least the 13th century and was exported to Switzerland and Germany. Hall was first mentioned in a document in 1232 (as "salina in intal"), and as early as 1303, it was elevated to the status of a city. The city's coat of arms shows the foundation of Hall's wealth: two bears holding a silver salt barrel.

In 1477, Archduke Sigismund moved the sovereign mint from Merano to Hall. The reason was primarily the proximity to the Schwaz silver mines, but also the better fortification of the city. In Hall, the first and most important silver coin of the realm was minted, the thaler. Consequently, Hall also became one of the most important marketplaces in Tyrol. The annual fairs in Hall were legendary and of supra-regional importance. Even today, weekly farmers' markets are held, as well as the extremely popular Easter and Advent markets.

The historic city center of Hall rises gradually from the banks of the Inn River. A landmark is the Mint Tower with Hasegg Castle. Here is also the Mint Museum with the world's unique historical roller coinage machine. In the middle of the center is one of the most beautiful inner-city squares in Austria, the Upper Town Square. Here lie the 15th-century town hall and the Gothic parish church of St. Nicholas. Not far from there, on Stiftsplatz, are the Sacred Heart Basilica and the All Saints' Church, the first Baroque church in North Tyrol. Overall, Hall has the largest preserved medieval old town in the whole of North Tyrol. But contemporary architecture also has a place in Hall, which is considered a prime example of a successful symbiosis of old and new. Hall has been awarded multiple times for its highly successful old town revitalization.

The best way to discover the old town of Hall is as part of a guided tour of the old town, as offered by the local tourism association. This provides interesting and exciting insights into the history of the city and its most important buildings. The tours take place regularly and are also available at any time upon request.