Gries am Brenner, often referred to as simply Gries (), is a municipality in the Wipptal in the southern district of Innsbruck-Land. The village consists of several hamlets. Geography Gries am Brenner is located at the entrance of the Obernbergtal on the western side of the Wipptal. Here the valley widens enough to accommodate the village, the River Sill and the B182 road; the Brenner Railway runs along the eastern side and the motorway A13 on the western, are on a higher level. Also the Lake Brennersee lies on the area of the municipality. History Origin Gries during the Roman Empire was an important passageway station to the south, but the final settlement dates back to the late Middle Ages; the oldest ones, which date back to the pre-Roman age, are at Nößlach and Vinader. The road was traveled by traders, travelers and pilgrims, and along the route some hamlets were built. Various historical figures have passed through Gries am Brenner, among them Charlemagne, Albrecht Dürer, Goethe and Mozart. To protect the road in the territory of Gries, a fortress was built, though in 1241 a conflict arose between Albert III County of Tyrol and the Diocese of Brixen, which led to its demolition. Meinhard, Duke of Carinthia was built in 1287 at Leug, just south of Gries; it is a fortress used for customs duty. Frederick IV, Duke of Austria built nearby a small church that had, between 1461 and 1811, an own vicarate. Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor was a regular visitor of Gries since the territory was full of game, during his hunting expeditions stayed at the "Weißes Rößle" Inn. Gries benefited, until 1560, from the wealth created by the mines in nearby Obernbergtal and its territory warehouses and workshops for the manufacture of silver. In 1809 during the Tyrolean Rebellion the General Lefebvre, in retaliation for the defeat suffered by the Saxons troops near Mules, destroyed the station customs at Leug which was definitively closed in 1815. After the second world war, for some years, the coal mine was exploited to the Nößlachjoch. Following the completion of the Brenner motorway, and the consequential diversion of traffic, the village has become quieter and sees fewer tourists. Owing to Gries's location near the border, it has several hotels that are centuries old. Coat of arms Gries am Brenner's coat of arms consists of three black forts on yellow