Tirol

views updated May 14 2018

Tirol (Tyrol) Federal state in w Austria, bordered n by Germany and s by Italy. The capital is Innsbruck. The Romans conquered the region in 15 bc, and the Franks held it during the 8th century. In 1363, the province was taken by the Habsburgs. In 1805, Napoleon I awarded Tirol to Bavaria in return for its support. In 1810, Napoleon gave s Tirol to the Italians, but the Congress of Vienna (1815) reunited Tirol with Austria. After World War I, when s Tirol was awarded to Italy, a process of Italianization was resisted by the German-speaking inhabitants. After World War 2, s Tirol was made an autonomous Italian region. Tourists are attracted by the good skiing conditions in the Tirolean Alps. Other economic activities are mainly agricultural. Area: 12,647sq km (4882sq mi). Pop. (2001) 675,063.