Austrian Tyrol Region
Austrian Tyrol Region
The Austrian Tyrol Region consists of two mountain ranges : The Lechtaler & Otztaler Alps (spanning the German and Italian borders respectively.
The Austrian Tyrol Region is the 3rd largest in Austria, with almost 5,000 Kms of Alpine trails marked out, but is also the most sparsely populated.
Despite this the region has maintained an independent regional identity after the peasant revolt during the Napoleonic era when control of the region was passed over to Bavarian rule.
Fiercely defending their Habsburg heritage the Austrian Tyrol Region farmers formed themselves into a (semi-) armed militia determined to harass and disrupt Bavarian and French armies alike. Armed only with spades, pitchforks and sticks this unlikely force, under the leadership of Andreas Hoyer even managed to inflict an embarrassing defeat on the French at the Battle of Bergeisel Hill in 1809.
In recognition of their active resistance during this period the AustrianRepublic granted semi-autonomous government to the Austrian Tyrol Region, and to this day the locals regard themselves as Tyroleon first, Austrian second. Legend has it that despite being captured, tortured and executed in Italy in 1810, Hoyer refused to be blindfolded when facing his firing squad - preferring to stare down his executioners!
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