Kitzbuehel

Kitzbühel is a medieval city in Tyrol, Austria, situated along the river Kitzbühler Ache. It is the administrative center of the district (Bezirk) Kitzbühel.

The first known settlers, who surfaced between 1100 BC and 800 BC were Illyrians mining copper in the hills near Kitzbühel.

Around 15 BC the Roman Emperor Augustus occupied the Alps and proclaimed the province Noricum. After the fall of the western Roman Empire, Bavarii settled in the Kitzbühel region around 800 and started clearing forests.

In the twelfth century the name Chizbuhel is mentioned for the first time in a document of the Chiemsee monastery. Chizzo relates to a Bavarii clan, Bühel describes the location of the settlement upon a hill.

The wars of the eighteenth and nineteenth century didn't reach the city, whereas some inhabitants participated in the Tyrolean rebellion against Napoleon. Kitzbühel once more became part of Bavaria after the Treaty of Pressburg, but was reunited with Tyrol after the fall of Napoleon, at the Congress of Vienna.

When Emperor Franz Joseph finally resolved the remaining constitutional uncertainties, and furthermore railway construction of the Salzburg-Tiroler-Bahn was finished in 1875, the city's trade and industry flourished. Also during World War I and World War II Kitzbühel remained far from the areas of war.

A view of Kitzbuhel from the Hahnenkahmbahn Lift. Behind the city is Kitzbuheler Horn, which is another mountain for skiing.