View source for Kitzbühel

{{Short description|Town in Tyrol, Austria}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name            = Kitzbühel
| native_name     = 
| settlement_type = [[Municipality (Austria)|Municipality]]
<!-- Images     -->
| image_skyline   = Kitzbuehel03.JPG
| imagesize       = 
| image_caption   = Kitzbühel in mid-August 2008
| image_shield    = AUT Kitzbühel COA.svg
| image_flag      = Banner_Kitzbühel.svg
| shield_size     = 80x110px
| shield_link     = 
<!-- Maps           -->
| pushpin_map         = Austria#Austria Tyrol
| pushpin_mapsize     = 270
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within Austria
| image_map           = 
| mapsize             = 
| map_alt             =
| map_caption         = Location within [[Kitzbühel (district)|Kitzbühel]] district
<!-- Location    -->
| coordinates       = {{coord|47|26|47|N|12|23|31|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type  = Country
| subdivision_name  = [[Austria]]
| subdivision_type1 = [[States of Austria|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Tyrol (state)|Tyrol]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[District (Austria)|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Kitzbühel (district)|Kitzbühel]]
| parts_type        = 
| parts_style       = para
| p1                = 
<!-- Leaders -->
| leader_title  = [[Burgomaster|Mayor]]
| leader_name   = Klaus Winkler ([[Austrian People's Party|ÖVP]])
| leader_party  = 
| leader_title1 = 
| leader_name1  = 
<!-- Statistics -->
| area_footnotes   = {{Austria population Wikidata|area_footnotes}}
| area_total_km2   = {{Austria population Wikidata|area_total_km2}}
| area_metro_km2   = 
| elevation_m      = 762
| elevation_max_m  = 
| elevation_min_m  = 
| population_as_of = {{Austria population Wikidata|population_as_of}}
| population_footnotes = {{Austria population Wikidata|population_footnotes}}
| population_total = {{Austria population Wikidata|population_total}}
| population_urban =  
| population_metro =  
| population_note  = 
| population_density_km2 = auto
| established_title = 
| established_date  = 
| timezone          = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| timezone_DST      = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset        = +1
| utc_offset_DST    = +2
| registration_plate = [[Vehicle registration plates of Austria|KB]]
| postal_code_type   = [[List of postal codes in Austria|Postal code]]
| postal_code        = 6370
| area_code_type = [[Telephone numbers in Austria|Area code]]
| area_code      = 05356
| website   = [http://www.kitzbuehel.at/ Kitzbühel]
| footnotes = 
}}
'''Kitzbühel''' ({{IPA|de|ˈkɪtsbyːl|lang|De-Kitzbühel2.ogg}}, also: {{IPA|de|ˈkɪtsbyːəl||De-Kitzbühel.ogg}}; {{IPA|bar|ˈkxɪtsb̥ɪxɪ|lang}}) is a [[town rights|medieval town]] situated in the [[Kitzbühel Alps]] along the river Kitzbüheler Ache in [[Tyrol (state)|Tyrol]], [[Austria]], about {{cvt|100|km}} east of the state capital [[Innsbruck]] and is the administrative centre of the [[Kitzbühel (district)|Kitzbühel]] district ({{lang|de|[[Bezirk]]}}). Kitzbühel is one of the most famous and exclusive [[ski resort]]s in the world. It is frequented primarily by the international [[High society (social class)|high society]] and has the most expensive [[real estate]] in Austria.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Online |first=Wiener Zeitung |title=- Kitzbühel housing is most expensive |url=https://www.wienerzeitung.at/nachrichten/english_news/61682_Kitzbuehel-housing-is-most-expensive.html |access-date=2022-09-12 |website=English News from Austria - Wiener Zeitung Online |date=9 February 2010 |language=de}}</ref> The proximity to [[Munich]] has made it a preferred location for vacation homes among the [[Germany|German]] [[elite]].<ref>{{Cite web |title="Schauplatz" über reiche Deutsche in Kitzbühel: Städtchen Drumherum |url=https://www.derstandard.at/story/2000077833221/reiche-deutsche-in-kitzbuehel-im-schauplatz-staedtchen-drumherum |access-date=2022-09-12 |website=DER STANDARD |language=de-AT}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dalmann |first=Johannes |date=2022-01-26 |title=Kitzbühel – wo die deutsche Wirtschaftselite wohnt |url=https://www.business-leaders.net/kitzbuehel-wo-die-deutsche-wirtschaftselite-wohnt/ |access-date=2022-09-12 |website=Business Leaders |language=de-DE}}</ref>

== Geography ==

Kitzbühel is situated in the Kitzbühel Alps between [[Zell am See]] and [[Innsbruck]]. It lies in the [[Leukental]] valley on the [[Kitzbüheler Ache]] river.

The town is subdivided into the municipalities of Am Horn, Aschbachbichl, Badhaussiedlung, Bichlach, Ecking, Felseneck, Griesenau, Griesenauweg, Gundhabing, Hagstein, Hausstatt, Henntal, Jodlfeld, Kaps, Mühlau, Obernau, Schattberg, Seereith, Siedlung Frieden, Am Sonnberg, Sonnenhoffeld, Staudach, Stockerdörfl and Zephirau.

The neighbouring municipalities are [[Aurach bei Kitzbühel]], [[Jochberg (Tirol)|Jochberg]], [[Kirchberg in Tirol]], [[Oberndorf in Tirol]], [[Reith bei Kitzbühel]], [[St. Johann in Tirol]] and [[Fieberbrunn]].

Kitzbühel's historic centre is mainly [[Car-free area|car-free]] and hosts a large selection of [[Luxury shopping|luxury shops]], cafés and [[fine dining]] restaurants.

===Climate===
{{climate chart|Kitzbühel
|−8|1|71
|−6|4|67
|−3|9|85
|1|13|82
|6|19|109
|9|21|157
|11|23|172
|11|23|151
|8|19|103
|3|14|74
|−2|6|82
|−6|2|83
|float=right
|clear=both
|source=[http://www.zamg.ac.at/fix/klima/oe71-00/klima2000/daten/klimadaten/tir/12200.htm ZAMG]
}}

{{Weather box
|location = Kitzbühel (1971–2000)
|single line = Yes
|metric first = Yes
|width = auto
|Jan record high C = 12.1
|Feb record high C = 16.0
|Mar record high C = 22.5
|Apr record high C = 27.6
|May record high C = 30.0
|Jun record high C = 34.6
|Jul record high C = 36.3
|Aug record high C = 34.8
|Sep record high C = 29.9
|Oct record high C = 25.0
|Nov record high C = 20.4
|Dec record high C = 15.6
|year record high C = 36.3
|Jan high C = 1.3
|Feb high C = 4.0
|Mar high C = 8.7
|Apr high C = 13.1
|May high C = 18.8
|Jun high C = 20.7
|Jul high C = 23.2
|Aug high C = 23.3
|Sep high C = 19.4
|Oct high C = 14.1
|Nov high C = 6.1
|Dec high C = 1.8
|year high C = 12.9
|Jan mean C = -4.1
|Feb mean C = -2.3
|Mar mean C = 1.9
|Apr mean C = 6.3
|May mean C = 11.6
|Jun mean C = 14.4
|Jul mean C = 16.4
|Aug mean C = 16.1
|Sep mean C = 12.1
|Oct mean C = 7.1
|Nov mean C = 0.9
|Dec mean C = -2.8
|year mean C = 6.5
|Jan low C = -7.7
|Feb low C = -6.3
|Mar low C = -2.5
|Apr low C = 1.3
|May low C = 5.7
|Jun low C = 9.0
|Jul low C = 11.1
|Aug low C = 11.0
|Sep low C = 7.5
|Oct low C = 3.0
|Nov low C = -2.3
|Dec low C = -5.8
|year low C = 2.0
|Jan record low C = -25.0
|Feb record low C = -21.0
|Mar record low C = -27.2
|Apr record low C = -11.6
|May record low C = -5.8
|Jun record low C = 1.6
|Jul record low C = 1.2
|Aug record low C = 2.0
|Sep record low C = -3.4
|Oct record low C = -9.0
|Nov record low C = -18.0
|Dec record low C = -20.6
|year record low C = -27.2
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 70.7
|Feb precipitation mm = 66.7
|Mar precipitation mm = 85.2
|Apr precipitation mm = 82.3
|May precipitation mm = 109.2
|Jun precipitation mm = 157.2
|Jul precipitation mm = 172.0
|Aug precipitation mm = 150.7
|Sep precipitation mm = 102.8
|Oct precipitation mm = 73.6
|Nov precipitation mm = 81.5
|Dec precipitation mm = 83.2
|year precipitation mm = 1235.1
|Jan snow cm = 43.3
|Feb snow cm = 46.7
|Mar snow cm = 35.6
|Apr snow cm = 8.6
|May snow cm = 0.2
|Jun snow cm = 0.0
|Jul snow cm = 0.0
|Aug snow cm = 0.0
|Sep snow cm = 0.0
|Oct snow cm = 0.5
|Nov snow cm = 20.4
|Dec snow cm = 50.3
|year snow cm = 205.6
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 9.5
|Feb precipitation days = 9.2
|Mar precipitation days = 12.2
|Apr precipitation days = 12.2
|May precipitation days = 12.8
|Jun precipitation days = 15.5
|Jul precipitation days = 15.4
|Aug precipitation days = 13.8
|Sep precipitation days = 10.8
|Oct precipitation days = 9.3
|Nov precipitation days = 10.6
|Dec precipitation days = 11.0
|year precipitation days = 142.3
|time day = 14:00
|Jan humidity = 70.4
|Feb humidity = 58.9
|Mar humidity = 50.5
|Apr humidity = 46.7
|May humidity = 45.0
|Jun humidity = 52.2
|Jul humidity = 50.8
|Aug humidity = 50.1
|Sep humidity = 52.8
|Oct humidity = 56.5
|Nov humidity = 68.2
|Dec humidity = 76.9
|year humidity = 56.6
|source 1 = [[Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics]]<ref name = ZAMG>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191012234750/http://www.zamg.ac.at/fix/klima/oe71-00/klima2000/klimadaten_oesterreich_1971_frame1.htm
| archive-date = 12 October 2019
| url = http://www.zamg.ac.at/fix/klima/oe71-00/klima2000/klimadaten_oesterreich_1971_frame1.htm
| title = Klimadaten von Österreich 1971–2000 – Tirol-Kitzbühel
| language = de
| publisher = Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics
| access-date = 28 October 2019}}</ref>
}}

==History==

===Earliest people===
The first known settlers were [[Illyria]]ns mining copper in the hills around Kitzbühel between 1100 and 800 BC.

Around 15 BC, the [[Roman Empire|Romans]] under [[Caesar Augustus|Emperor Augustus]] extended their empire to include the Alps and established the province of [[Noricum]]. After the fall of the western Roman Empire, [[Bavarii]] settled in the Kitzbühel region around 800 and started clearing forests.

===Middle Ages===
In the 12th century, the name ''Chizbuhel'' is mentioned for the first time in a document belonging to the [[Chiemsee]] monastery (where it refers to a "Marquard von Chizbuhel"), whereby ''Chizzo'' relates to a Bavarian clan and ''[[Bichl|Bühel]]'' refers to the location of a settlement upon a hill. One hundred years later a source refers to the [[Vogt]]ei of the [[Bamberg]] monastery in ''Kicemgespuchel'' and, in the 1271 document elevating the settlement to the status of a town, the place is called ''Chizzingenspuehel''.

Kitzbühel became part of [[Oberbayern|Upper Bavaria]] in 1255 when Bavaria was first partitioned. Duke [[Louis II, Duke of Bavaria|Ludwig II]] of [[Duchy of Bavaria|Bavaria]] granted Kitzbühel [[town rights]] on 6 June 1271, and it was fortified with defensive town walls. During the next centuries the town established itself as a market town, growing steadily and remaining unaffected by war and conflict. The town walls were eventually reduced to the level of a single storey building, and the stone used to build residential housing.

{{Historical populations
|1869 |2982
|1880 |3167
|1890 |3290
|1900 |3453
|1910 |4021
|1923 |4378
|1934 |5294
|1939 |5419
|1951 |7211
|1961 |7744
|1971 |8020
|1981 |7840
|1991 |8119
|2001 |8574
|2008 |8437
|2011 |8207
|2017 |8341
|source= [http://www.statistik.at/blickgem/gemDetail.do?gemnr=70411 Statistik Austria]
}}

When Countess [[Margarete Maultasch|Margarete]] of [[County of Tyrol|Tyrol]] married the [[Duchy of Bavaria|Bavarian]], Duke [[Louis V the Brandenburger]], in 1342, Kitzbühel was temporarily united with the [[County of Tyrol]] (that in turn became a Bavarian dominion as a result of the marriage until Louis' death). After the [[Peace of Schärding]] (1369) Kitzbühel was returned to Bavaria. Following the division of Bavaria, Kufstein went to the [[Landshut]] line of the [[House of Wittelsbach]]. During this time, silver and copper mining in Kitzbühel expanded steadily and comprehensive mining rights were issued to her that, later, were to become significant to the Bavarian dukedom. On 30 June 1504 Kitzbühel became a part of Tyrol permanently: the Emperor [[Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor|Maximilian]] reserved to himself the hitherto [[Landshut]] offices ({{lang|de|[[Ämter]]}}) of Kitzbühel, [[Kufstein]] and [[Rattenberg (Tirol)|Rattenberg]] as a part of his Cologne Arbitration ({{lang|de|Kölner Schiedsspruch}}), that had ended the [[Landshut War of Succession]].

However, the law of Louis of Bavaria continued to apply to the three aforementioned places until the 19th century, so that these towns had a special legal status within Tyrol. Maximilian enfeoffed Kitzbühel, with the result that it came under the rule of the Counts of [[County of Lamberg|Lamberg]] at the end of the 16th century, until 1 May 1840, when Kitzbühel was ceremonially transferred to the state.

An inscription in the Swedish Chapel dating to the [[Swedish intervention in the Thirty Years' War|Swedish War]] states {{lang|de|"Bis hierher und nicht weiter kamen die schwedischen Reiter"}} ("The Swedish knights came as far as here but no further").<ref>[http://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/deutschland/bayern/inntal/reiter.html ''The legend of the unknown knight'']</ref>

===18th century to modern day===
The wars of the 18th and 19th century bypassed the town, even though its inhabitants participated in the [[Tyrolean Rebellion]] against [[Napoleon]]. Following the [[Treaty of Pressburg (1805)|Treaty of Pressburg]] in 1805, Kitzbühel once more became part of Bavaria; it was reunited with Tyrol after the fall of [[Napoleon]] at the [[Congress of Vienna]]. Until 1918, the town (named {{lang|de|Kitzbichl}} before 1895) was part of the [[Austrian monarchy]] (Austria side after the [[compromise of 1867]]), head of the district of the same name, one of the 21 {{lang|de|Bezirkshauptmannschaften}} in the [[County of Tyrol|Tyrol]] province.<ref>Die postalischen Abstempelungen auf den österreichischen Postwertzeichen-Ausgaben 1867, 1883 und 1890, Wilhelm KLEIN, 1967</ref>

When Emperor [[Franz Joseph of Austria|Franz Joseph]] finally resolved the confusing constitutional situation,{{clarify|date=January 2022}} and following completion of the [[Salzburg-Tyrol Railway]] in 1875, the town's trade and industry flourished. In 1894, Kitzbühel hosted its first ski race, ushering in a new era of tourism and sport.<ref>Chizzali. Tyrol: Impressions of Tyrol. (Innsbruck: Alpina Printers and Publishers), p. 46</ref>

In 1924 Alban Ernan Forbes Dennis, a British diplomat and spy, with his wife, the novelist [[Phyllis Bottome]], started the Tennerhof school in Kitzbühel. Based on the teaching of languages, the school was intended to be a community and an educational laboratory to determine how psychology (specifically the theories of [[Alfred Adler]]) and educational theory could cure the ills of nations. Among the pupils were the future authors [[Ralph Arnold (publisher)|Ralph Arnold]], [[Nigel Dennis]], [[Ian Fleming]] and [[Cyril Connolly]].<ref>John Pearson. ''The Life of Ian Fleming'' (1966)</ref>

Kitzbühel was the town to host the remnants of the [[Nazi]] made [[Serbia]]n collaborationist government the [[Government of National Salvation]] from 1944 to the end of the war. Kitzbühel also had the good fortune to remain undamaged from the ravages of the [[World War I|First]] and [[World War II|Second World Wars]].<ref>[http://geschichte-tirol.com/orte/nordtirol/kitzbuehel/1208-kitzbuehel.html ''History of Tyrol – Kitzbühel'']</ref>
Since the year 2000 the town has been a member of the [[Climate Alliance|Climate Alliance of Tyrol]].

The town's demographic evolution between 1869 and 2017 is shown in the list to the right.

== Places of interest ==

* St. Catherine's Church: built 1360–1365, High Gothic church in the heart of the town with a coppersmith altar; the high tower with its spire is a striking landmark in the town centre. Its [[carillon]] sounds at 11 am and 5 pm.
* Protestant Christ's Church in Kitzbühel: built in 1962 by [[Clemens Holzmeister]]
* Reisch Dance Cafe: built in 1928 by Lois Welzenbacher (architect of the ''Tiroler Moderne''); the Plahl Medical Practice (''Arzthaus'') was also designed by him
* ''Berghaus Holzmeister'', a guesthouse on Kitzbühel's local mountain, the [[Hahnenkamm (Kitzbühel)|Hahnenkamm]]; built in 1930 by [[Clemens Holzmeister]]
* Berghaus by [[Alfons Walde]], 100m away
* Fresco by [[Max Weiler]] (1951) in Kitzbühel Primary School (''Volksschule'')
* Newly built tri-cable system by the firm of [[Doppelmayr Garaventa Group|Doppelmayr]], the [[Aerial lift|cable car]] with the highest elevation above the ground ({{Convert|400|m|ft}}) in the world.
*''Museum Kitzbühel - Collection Alfons Walde'': the new renovated museum presents the history of the town, from 1000 years ago to the winter sports era; it also includes a larger permanent exhibition of the Tyrolean painter [[Alfons Walde]].

== Notable people ==
In the 1950s, local legends like [[Ernst Hinterseer]], [[Hias Leitner]], [[Anderl Molterer]], [[Christian Pravda]], Fritz Huber Jr. and [[Toni Sailer]] wrote skiing history. They put Kitzbühel on the map and their names still resonate today. Now there is a new generation earning the title of Kitzbühel legends: Rosi Schipflinger, Axel Naglich, Kaspar Frauenschuh, and [[David Kreiner]]. Along with sporting achievements, fashion, and food, they are part of Kitzbühel's unique culture:
[[File:Hansi Hinterseer.jpg|thumb|130px|[[Hansi Hinterseer]], 2006]]
[[File:Stig Sollander, Tony Sailer and Chiharu Chick Igaya 1956 - Sailer cropped.jpg|thumb|130px|[[Toni Sailer]], 1956]]
[[File:2018-09-09 ZDF Fernsehgarten Ireen Sheer-8241.jpg|thumb|130px|[[Ireen Sheer]], 2018]]
[[File:ColognePride 2019-Sonntag-Hauptbühne-2038-Haddaway und Dinah Nah--9127.jpg|thumb|130px|[[Haddaway]], 2019]]
*[[Karl Wilhelm von Dalla Torre]] (1850–1928), Austrian entomologist and botanist
*[[Alfons Walde]] (1891–1958), Austrian expressionist painter and architect
*[[Peter Aufschnaiter]] (1900–1973), an Austrian mountaineer, agricultural scientist, geographer and cartographer. 
*[[Georg Hochfilzer]] (born 1937), famous international hotel director of the Hotel Bristol in Vienna
* [[Jörg Friedrich (author)|Jörg Friedrich]] (born 1944) German author and historian
*[[Roman Strobl]] (born 1951), Austrian sculptor
*[[Hansi Hinterseer]] (born 1954), an Austrian [[schlager]] singer, actor, entertainer and former alpine skier.

=== Sport ===
*[[Peter Aufschnaiter]] (1899–1973),  mountaineer, agricultural scientist, geographer and cartographer.
*[[Anderl Molterer]] (1931-2023), Austrian alpine skier, silver and bronze medallist at the [[1956 Winter Olympics]]
*[[Ernst Hinterseer]] (born 1932), Austrian alpine skier, gold and bronze medallist at the [[1960 Winter Olympics]]
*[[Toni Sailer]] (1935–2009), legendary Austrian alpine skier and actor; three gold medals at the [[1956 Winter Olympics]]
*[[Hias Leitner]] (born 1935), Austrian alpine skier, silver medallist at the [[1960 Winter Olympics]]
*[[Christl Haas]] (1943–2001), Austrian alpine skier, gold and bronze medallist at the [[1964 Winter Olympics|1964]] & [[1968 Winter Olympics]]
*[[Herbert Huber (skier)|Herbert Huber]] (1944-1970),  Austrian alpine skier and silver medallist at the [[1968 Winter Olympics]] 
*[[Klaus Sulzenbacher]] (born 1965), Nordic skier, 1 x silver and 3 x bronze medals at the [[1988 Winter Olympics|1988]] & [[1992 Winter Olympics]]
*[[Markus Gandler]] (born 1966), Austrian cross-country skier, silver medallist at the [[1998 Winter Olympics]]
*[[Manuel Schmid (footballer)|Manuel Schmid]] (born 1981), Austrian footballer who played over 175 games
*[[David Kreiner]] (born 1981), an Austrian Nordic combined skier and team gold medallist at the [[2010 Winter Olympics]]
*[[Andreas Hölzl]] (born 1985) is an Austrian footballer who has played over 380 games and 9 for [[Austria national football team|Austria]]
*[[Lukas Hinterseer]] (born 1991), Austrian footballer who has played over 400 games and 13 for [[Austria national football team|Austria]]

=== Famous inhabitants of Kitzbühel ===
*[[Phyllis Bottome]] (1885-1963), British novelist, in 1924 she and her husband started a local school 
*[[Leni Riefenstahl]]  (1902–2003), German filmmaker, photographer and dancer
*[[Ian Fleming]] (1908–1964), British spy novel author; in 1927, he went to the Tennerhof, a small private school
*[[Heinrich Harrer]] (1912–2006), Austrian mountaineer, author and geographer; in 1952, he settled down locally
*{{ill|Trude Lechle|de}} (1919-2014), Austrian skier, actress and camerawoman; died locally
*[[Uschi Glas]] (born 1944), a German actress in film, television, and on stage, and a singer.
*[[Werner Baldessarini]] (born 1945), fashion designer and businessman, formerly chairman of [[Hugo Boss]]; lives locally
*[[Franz Beckenbauer]] (1945–2024), German football player and manager; in 1982, he moved to Austria
*[[Ireen Sheer]] (born 1949), pop singer, has represented Luxembourg and Germany at the [[Eurovision Song Contest]]
*[[Susanne Klatten]] (born 1962), a German billionaire heiress, in 1990 she married locally 
*[[Haddaway]] (born 1965), Trinidadian-German singer, best-known hit: "[[What Is Love (Haddaway song)|What Is Love]]", lives locally
*[[Philipp Kohlschreiber]] (born 1983), German tennis player, in 2018 married locally

==Sport ==
Kitzbühel is one of Europe’s best-known [[winter sports]] resorts, situated between the mountains [[Hahnenkamm, Kitzbühel|Hahnenkamm]] {{nowrap|([[Elevation|elev.]] {{convert|1712|m|abbr=on}})}} adjacent to the southwest and {{nowrap|[[Kitzbühler Horn]]}} {{nowrap|({{convert|1996|m|abbr=on}})}} to the northeast. The Hahnenkamm hosts the annual [[FIS Alpine Ski World Cup|World Cup]] [[Hahnenkamm, Kitzbühel#Hahnenkamm race|ski races]], including the circuit's most notable event, the [[Hahnenkamm Races]] on the notable [[Hahnenkamm, Kitzbühel#Course sections|Streif]] slope. Introduced {{Time ago|1937}} in 1937, the northeast-facing ''Streif'' is among the world's toughest downhill courses, if not the most, and is infamous for an abundance of spectacular crashes. In 1959 the [[Austrian Alpine Ski Championships 1959|Austrian Alpine Ski Championships]] took place from 27 February to 1 March.

Each summer Kitzbühel also hosts an [[Association of Tennis Professionals|ATP]] tennis tournament on [[clay court|clay]], the [[Austrian Open (tennis)|Austrian Open]].

From 2007 to 2011, [[ITU Triathlon World Cup]] races took place at the local ''Schwarzsee'' lake.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://kitzbuehel.triathlon.org |title= Kitzbuhel Triathlon |access-date= 2011-08-08 |work= International Triathlon Union |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110728125341/http://kitzbuehel.triathlon.org/ |archive-date= 2011-07-28 }}</ref>

The ''Kitzbüheler Alpenrallye'' is an annual festival of historic automobiles, first held {{Time ago|1988}} in 1988. The first trip of the ''[[United Buddy Bears]]'' was 2004 to Kitzbühel, following by the first trip into the "big wide world" – when they went to [[Hong Kong]] and many other metropolises on all five continents.

Since 2003, Kitzbühel has been hosting an annual Snow Polo event in January.

== Tourism ==
[[File:Winter snow in Kitzbühel.jpg|thumb|Winter snow in Kitzbühel]]
Together with the [[piste]]s and ski lifts in neighbouring [[Kirchberg in Tirol]], [[Jochberg (Tirol)|Jochberg]] and by the [[Thurn Pass]] Kitzbühel is one of the largest ski regions in Austria. With around 10,000 hotel and guest house beds, Kitzbühel and its neighbours have an unusually high density of guest accommodation.

Holidaymakers in Kitzbühel have 56 cableway and lift facilities and 168 kilometres of slopes available to them, as well as 40 kilometres of groomed cross-country skiing tracks. Of note is the relatively new [[3S Cable Car]], the cable car with the highest above-ground span in the world.

In summer there are {{convert|120|km|0|abbr=on}} of mountain bike paths and {{convert|500|km|0|abbr=on}} of hiking trails.

Other attractions include six tennis courts and four golf courses, the Kitzbühel swimming pool, Austria's only [[curling]] hall and the bathing lake of [[Schwarzsee (Kitzbühel)|Schwarzsee]].

Kitzbühel primarily caters for the high end of the tourist market, as many celebrities and the [[jet set]] come here, especially during the international races on the Hahnenkamm.

Together with eleven other towns Kitzbühel is a member of the community ''Best of the Alps''.<ref>[https://www.bestofthealps.com/en/ Best of the Alps]</ref> KitzSki, Kitzbühel's main ski lift operator, has managed to defend the title of “World's Best Ski Resort Company” for the seventh time in a row at the 2020 World Ski Awards.<ref>{{Cite web|title=World Ski Awards 2017|url=https://www.kitzski.at/de/unternehmensinfo/skigebiet-tirol/auszeichnungen/kitzski-ist-worlds-best-ski-resort-company-2020.html|access-date=2020-12-08|website=www.kitzski.at}}</ref>

==Music==
An [[International Polkafest]] was held in Kitzbühel in 1978.<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://bismarcktribune.com/news/obituaries/eugene-weisbeck/article_a29ecb76-d55d-11e3-83ed-0019bb2963f4.html
|title=Eugene Weisbeck
|newspaper=Bismarck Tribune |date=May 7, 2014
|quote=... Smithsonian Institute Music Festival [sic] in Washington, D.C.  In 1978, he represented the United States at the International Polkafest in Kilzbuhel, Austria. }}</ref>

== Transport ==
''Road:''

The [[Brixental Road]], the B170, from [[Wörgl]] intersects in Kitzbühel with the [[Thurn Pass]] Road, the B161, from [[Mittersill]] to [[St. Johann in Tirol]]. Kitzbühel station is a major bus stop for buses to Lienz and Wörgl.

''Rail:''

Kitzbühel Hauptbahnhof, Kitzbühel Hahnenkamm and Kitzbühel Schwarzsee are stops on the [[Salzburg-Tyrol Railway]]. Whilst Hahnenkamm and Schwarzsee stations are served by local trains only, long-distance services from [[Innsbruck]] and [[Graz]] stop at [[Kitzbühel railway station|Kitzbühel station]]. Kitzbühel station has just been rebuilt (2010) and been equipped with new [[barrier-less]] [[Railway platform|platform]]s with underpasses and a lift. From 2011 there will be no stationmaster at Kitzbühel and it will no longer be possible to buy tickets at the counter.

==International relations==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Austria}}

===Twin towns – sister cities===
Kitzbühel is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with:<ref name="Kitzbühel twinnings">{{cite web |url= http://www.kitzbuehel.eu/system/web/zusatzseite.aspx?detailonr=34869817 |title= Partnerstädte |access-date=2008-08-04 |work= Stadtgemeinde Kitzbühel |language= de}}</ref>

*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Greenwich, Connecticut]], since 1961<ref name="Kitzbühel twinnings"/>
*{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Yamagata, Yamagata|Yamagata]], [[Japan]], since 1963<ref name="Kitzbühel twinnings"/><ref name="Yamagata twinnings">{{cite web|url=http://www.city.yamagata-yamagata.lg.jp/shiseijoho/torikumi/kokusaikoryu/24c2pd0115103128.html |script-title=ja:山形市の友好姉妹都市 |trans-title=Yamagata City Twin Cities |publisher=Yamagata City |location=Japan |language=ja |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415103251/http://www.city.yamagata-yamagata.lg.jp/shiseijoho/torikumi/kokusaikoryu/24c2pd0115103128.html |archive-date=15 April 2012 |access-date=12 October 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Sun Valley, Idaho]], since 1967<ref name="Kitzbühel twinnings"/>
*{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Sterzing]], [[Italy]], since 1971<ref name="Kitzbühel twinnings"/>
*{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Rueil-Malmaison]], [[France]], since 1979<ref name="Kitzbühel twinnings"/>
*{{flagicon|GER}} [[Bad Soden am Taunus]], [[Germany]], since 1984<ref name="Kitzbühel twinnings"/><ref name="Bad Soden twinnings">{{cite web|url=http://www.bad-soden.de/de/bad-soden-am-taunus/partnerstaedte.aspx|title=Partnerstädte|publisher=Bad Soden am Taunus|language=de|access-date=2013-12-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214012847/http://www.bad-soden.de/de/bad-soden-am-taunus/partnerstaedte.aspx|archive-date=2013-12-14|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery perrow="9">
File:Kitzbuhel Schwarzsee 1.jpg|The ''Schwarzsee'' lake and ''Wilder Kaiser'' mountains as the backdrop
File:Kitzbuhel Liebfrauenkirche Pfarrkirche_Andreas.jpg|The medieval churches of ''Liebfrauenkirche'' (l) and St Andrew's (r).
File:Kitzbuhel Liebfrauenkirche.jpg|The ''Liebfrauenkirche'' church with its 48 m bell tower.
File:Kitzbuhel Pfarrkirche Heiliger Andreas.jpg|St Andrew's with its 13th-century tower.
File:Kitzbuhel Katharinenkirche 1.jpg|St Catherine's from the north.
File:Kitzbuhel Katharinenkirche 2.jpg|St Catherine's from the south.
File:Kitzbuehel04.JPG|Kitzbühel's twin churches, the ''Liebfrauenkirche'' and St Andrew's.
File:Kitz.jpg|The ''Kitzbüheler Horn'' seen from the cable car to the ''Hahnenkamm''.
File:Kitzbühel, Kiegerdenkmal Dm110136 foto5 2017-08-03 10.57.jpg|War memorial in Kitzbühel
</gallery>

== Panorama ==
{{wide image|Kitzbuehel_Panorama.jpg|800px|alt=Panorama of Kitzbühel}}

== See also ==

* [[Salzburg]]
* [[Salzburgerland]]

==Notes and references==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons-inline}}
*[http://www.kitzbuehel.com/en/ Tourist office Kitzbühel]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120903114608/http://www.gpix.at/Gpix.at-Gigapixel_gpath,kitzbuehel,pid,9112,type,gpix.html Kitzbühel Gigapixel Panorama (20.000 Megapixel)]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070228163248/http://sabin.ro/gallery/album314 Kitzbühel Ski Slopes Photo Gallery]
*[http://www.bergbahn-kitzbuehel.at/en/ Bergbahn Kitzbühel - mountain railway]
*[http://www.museum-kitzbuehel.at/ Museum Kitzbühel - Alfons Walde]
*(https://www.skiline.co.uk/blog/new-ski-circuit-in-austrias-tyrol)

{{Cities and towns in Kitzbühel (district)}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kitzbuhel}}
[[Category:Kitzbühel| ]]
[[Category:Ski areas and resorts in Austria]]
[[Category:Kitzbühel Alps]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Kitzbühel District]]