Kitzbühel

Location
In the Kitzbühel Alps, conveniently located close enough to Innsbruck (95 km), Salzburg (80 km) and Munich (120 km) for excursions to these to be possible.

Population:
8,439

Altitude
800 to 2,000 metres above sea level

In 1165, the name Chizbuhel appears for the first time in a Chiemsee document, which the words chizzo and buhel forged together to describe its geographical location.

The heyday of mining in Kitzbühel began around 1450, but silver was not found in Kitzbühel until the 16th century. The cityscape is a consequence of the resultant wealth. Around 1850, summer tourism came to Kitzbühel and in 1875, with the construction of the railway, the rise to an international tourist destination began. In 1893 Franz Reisch was the first person to ski down the Kitzbüheler Horn and documents state that the first ski races were held in Kitzbühel in 1894/95.

Different coloured facades of gable-topped houses catch the eye in the historical city centre over 750 years old. This is a result of a suggestion from the famous Kitzbühel artist and painter Alfons Walde in the early 19th century. His work can be admired in the Kitzbühel Museum, while his architectural heritage can be marvelled at in the former mining town, over which the beautiful parish church of St. Andreas towers. The church hill with the two distinctive towers is a landmark of the district capital, affectionately known as the Chamois Town.

as the legend goes that the first Bavarian settlers once saw chamois - Kitz - grazing on one of the local grass hills - with BÜHEL meaning hill in German. However, documents show the town’s name actually comes from a nobleman with the name Chizzo. Kitzbühel therefore means Chizzo’s Hill

• Greenwich / Connecticut / USA – since 1961
• Yamagata / Japan – since 1963
• Sun Valley / Idaho / USA – since 1967
• Sterzing / Italy – since 1971
• Rueil Malmaison / France – since 1979
• Bad Soden am Taunus / Germany – since 1984