General information
Kitzbühel, with its 8105 inhabitants, lies 800 m above sea level at the foot of the 'Hahnenkamm' and 'Horn' mountains, close to the lake 'Schwarzsee'. Kitzbühel became a settlement area during the Middle Ages, and today's old-town facades were built in the 17th century. By that time, Kitzbühel had become a significant trade and market place. Kitzbühel remained distant from the devastation of the 1st and 2nd World Wars. Kitzbühel's rise to international tourism began with the completion of the railroad in late 19th century. By that time, the Kitzbühel mayor Franz Reisch had brought skis to Kitzbühel and had inspired a sensational growth in the sport of skiing. One of the most famous competitions in alpine skiing today, the spectacular Hahnenkamm race, was held for the first time in 1931. This was when Kitzbühel started to develop into a Skidorado.