The Habsburg Dynasty had ruled large parts of Europe and the world for 650 years. During World War I, however, the mighty Austro-Hungarian Empire sowed the seeds of its own demise. At the height of World War I, the world of the Habsburgs was on the brink of collapse. Almost exactly 100 years ago to the day, in April 1918, the most sensitive diplomatic mission of the First World War became a Europe-wide scandal: the so-called "Sixtus Affair". Secret negotiations between the Austrian imperial family and France were supposed to bring peace to the Danube monarchy – and their failure caused the war to escalate and the Habsburgs to fall.

The Fall of the Habsburgs

Around 1520, Schwaz and the silver region became the Silver Empire, the Silicon Valley of Europe.  Not only the mining of silver and copper, but also the associated “industry” characterize the villages and hamlets of the region. With the arrival of the Fuggers, the Tyrolean trades disappear. Power, powerlessness, wealth and poverty - new times dawn in the “silver empire”.  In 1521, the Fuggers take over the exploitation of silver mining in Schwaz/Tyrol. This marks the beginning of a new European era. Schwaz silver is used to buy empires, finance wars and set progress in motion. But it is not only the “silver town” of Schwaz, but also the entire region around Schwaz along the Lower Inn Valley, as well as other regions of Europe, that provide innovations with silver and also the lesser-known copper mining.