Good to know
Good to Know
- Between 1600 and 1800, Kitzbühel had its own art scene, with the Faistenberger family among sculptors, painters and composers who lived in the town for four generations and left their mark with their works visible in St Andrew's Church, the Liebfrauenkirche and in the town centre
- During World War II, Kitzbühel was spared the destruction that leveled much of Europe, leaving its old town remarkably untouched
- Kitzbühel is a sports and lifestyle metropolis that attracts visitors from all over the world, with travelers having always been part of the town due to its position on an old busy trade route from Chiemsee via the Felbertauern to Venice
Museums
Museum Kitzbühel – Alfons Walde Collection
- Location
- Hinterstadt 32, 6370 Kitzbühel
- Practical Info
- Audio guide for download is available on the homepage www.museum-kitzbuehel.at
- Description
- The Museum Kitzbühel provides a unique insight into the history and culture of the town and region, with exhibits ranging from Bronze Age mining around 1000 BC to the history of the town and winter sports with Toni Sailer and the legendary "Kitzbühel Ski Miracle Team" of the 1950s. The focus of the museum's permanent collection is on Alfons Walde, with 60 paintings and over 100 graphics, drawings, photographs and prints presented on the third floor and attic covering 250 m².
Special Offers
- Guided Tours
- €80
- Groups 10 Plus
- €6.50
- Children Under 18
- Free entry
Jochberg Museum
- Description
- The Jochberg Museum combines a farm museum, mining history, and natural history, with fossils, hunting traditions, and historical technology offering insight into the region's diversity. The museum houses the Vorderkünstler Farmers' Museum with a functioning flour mill from 1770, a weaving room and large agricultural equipment, Jochberg's first sports cable car, and one of the largest fossil collections in Austria.
Art Galleries
Walentowski Galleries
- Description
- The Walentowski Galleries enrich Kitzbühel with international art spanning classical modernism, Pop Art, and contemporary works by renowned artists such as Udo Lindenberg, Otto Waalkes, and Elvira Bach in the Vorderstadt district
Galerie Zeitkunst
- Description
- For over 35 years, Galerie Zeitkunst has been one of Kitzbühel's established art destinations, showcasing contemporary works by Austrian and international artists with a focus on Italy, France, England, and the German-speaking region
Stadtgalerie Kitz Art
- Description
- Run by the "Kunst und Kulturverein Kitz Art Innovation" since 2003, it has developed into an important hub for contemporary art in Tyrol, presenting established and emerging artists with exhibitions changing monthly
Gallery Frank Fluegel
- Description
- With locations in Nuremberg and Kitzbühel, the gallery specializes in high-quality originals of Pop Art, Street Art and contemporary art, with an international network in Paris, London, New York, Los Angeles and Singapore, focusing on original prints and works on paper and canvas alongside sculptures and design objects, including works by Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, and Roy Lichtenstein
Cultural Sites
Katharinenkirche (St. Catherine's Church)
- Description
- St. Catherine's Church is one of the prominent features of the historic cityscape
Stadtbrunnen (Town Fountain)
- Description
- The town fountain was built in 1971 to mark the 700th anniversary of the town of Kitzbühel
Must See Sights
Historic Old Town (Vorderstadt & Hinterstadt)
- Description
- The Jochberger Tor is the entrance to the historic old town with a view of the entire promenade, and at the other end, the two towers of the Church of Our Lady and St Andrew's Church greet you, with the Wilder Kaiser visible behind them. The old town came first, centuries before the ski lifts and race banners, with history still humming in every square—it's intimate, authentic, and alive with soul that cannot be engineered
St. Andrew's Church (Pfarrkirche Zum Heiligen Andreas)
- Description
- The Kitzbühel Church of St. Andreas is a stunning 14th-century Gothic gem with beautiful frescoes, ornate altars, and intricate stained-glass windows, serving as a peaceful spot to soak in Kitzbühel's history and admire fine craftsmanship
Liebfrauenkirche (Church of Our Lady)
- Description
- The Liebfrauenkirche features a bell tower from the 16th century and an old rustic cemetery, with the small church built around the 14th century showing evident Gothic architecture style
Schwarzsee (Black Lake)
- Description
- Schwarzsee has a fairy tale-like appearance and offers boating experiences in tranquil waters of the mountain lake, with water so clear that swimming is a good option
Kitzbüheler Horn
- Description
- Kitzbüheler Horn is a 1,996-meter mountain offering cable cars, gondola lifts, skiing, hiking trails, and an alpine garden. High above Kitzbühel is the almost 2,000 m high Kitzbüheler Horn with its fabulous Alpine Flower Garden
Hahnenkamm Mountain & the Streif
- Description
- The world's hardest ski race Hahnenkamm Races is a yearly event that attracts the attention of ski fans around the world. Mt. Hahnenkamm is known for the annual Hahnenkamm Ski Race on the mighty "Streif" slope, when the town turns for a whole weekend into the worldwide centre of alpine skiing, with the finish area located right next to the town centre
Practical Tips
Practical Tips
- Admission to the Museum Kitzbühel includes both permanent and special exhibitions, with audio guide downloads available
- Plan ahead for restroom breaks as there are no toilets within the Museum Kitzbühel premises
- English language signage is available at the Museum if audio tours are not used
- A detour to the Kitzbühel Museum is a must when visiting, with the Kitzbühel painter Alfons Walde having had a lasting impact on the image of Kitzbühel, with more than 60 paintings and 100 prints on display
History Overview
- Medieval And Architecture
- Founded in the 12th century as a small mining settlement extracting copper and silver, the wealth of that trade brought merchants, builders, and artisans, who left behind fortified walls, baroque churches, and merchant houses. The pastel façades were introduced in the 18th and 19th centuries as a touch of Italian influence that softened the Gothic stonework beneath, with many buildings still featuring hand-painted frescos or family crests dating back generations.
- Founding And Early Development
- Kitzbühel was first mentioned in 1165 and chartered in 1271. The area's origins date from prehistoric times, with copper mining between the 12th and 8th century BC. The Kitzbühel region was a mining district of great importance as early as 1000 BC, and the silver and copper mining industry underwent considerable expansion in the 15th century, becoming one of the most important mining centres in the Tirol. In 1894, Kitzbühel hosted its first ski race, ushering in a new era of tourism and sport.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
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Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.