Kitzbühel, the soul of Skiing
Kitzbühel is a medieval town and a ski resort located in the Kitzbühel Alps along the river Kitzbüheler Ache in Tirol, Austria, only 95 kilometers east of the state capital Innsbruck and 120km from Munich.
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Located at an altitude of 800 meters above sea level and in a unique landscape, Kitzbühel is also sure to impress with its stunning townscape. Their town Centre, locals fondly refer to as the "Stadl", and the Museum of Kitzbühel - Alfons Walde Collection are worth a visit.
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The ski resort of Kitzbühel is famous the world over not least thanks to the infamous Streif piste where the annual Hahnenkamm downhill race is held in January, when the world's best skiers gather in this chic village in the east of Tirol for a weekend of high-speed and high-adrenaline action.
The International Hahnenkamm Race is one of the highlights of the ski racing season and this winter this legendary race will be celebrating its 80th anniversary. The race is held on the Hahnenkamm mountain (the name translates to "Rooster's Comb"), one of the mountains surrounding the ski resort town of Kitzbühel.
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The climax of the Hahnenkamm races weekend is what is considered to be the worldÂ’s most challenging downhill ski race: the Streif. Over the past nearly 80 years, this course has been putting skiers to the ultimate test and pushing them to their limits, with only the best in the world able to succeed and claim victory.
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The simplest way to describe this drop down the most fearsome slope on the World Cup tour is simply: "The Race". What Wimbledon is for Tennis and Monaco is for Formula 1, "Kitz" is for ski racing.
The Kitzbühel / Kirchberg ski area nestles between the Kitzbüheler Horn and the Hahnenkamm, and also the Pengelstein and Resterhöhe, between 800 and 2000 metres altitude. From the legendary 'Streif' ski run, to pistes ideal for beginners, the ski area around Kitzbühel have 57 cable cars and lifts giving access to 234 km of pistes, including 119 cover by a modern snow-making system, and 36 km of ski routes. As well as variety-packed pistes, countless 'gmiatliche' (= cozy) ski lodges right at the ski runs tempt you in for some refreshments.
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There is a very special service on offer for beginners and those getting back into the swing of things - in each town in the Kitzbühel ski area all the practice lifts in the valley can be used free of charge. The KitzSki Kitzbühel / Kirchberg ski area spans seven districts and two states (Tyrol and Salzburg).
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The Kitzbühel ski area was chosen as "the best ski area in the world” by "skiresort.de", the world largest test portal for ski areas. The ski region was particularly commended for: best slopes and piste grooming, the most snow-reliable region, best snow making, TOP mountain restaurants, alpine lodges and romantic ski huts and TOP après ski.
In addition, World Ski Awards (the Oscars of the skiing industry) chose Kitzbühel as the World's Best Ski Resort's and KitzSki as the World's Best Ski Resort Company.
The village has developed a reputation as one of the top international destinations for the winter jetset. Kitzbühel's classy bars and pubs in the evenings are awash with ski fans and celebrities.
It is also a paradise for shopping and dining. The pretty village is home to many exclusive boutiques and fine restaurants. The towns of Kitzbühel, Reith, Aurach, Jochberg, Pass Thurn-Mittersill,
Hollersbach along with Kirchberg and Aschau in Spertental, are a part of the KitzSki Area.
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Thanks to its location, Kitzbühel enjoys excellent snowfall throughout the winter and when Mother Nature is smiling on this corner of Tirol, it offers some of the best powder skiing anywhere. Kitzbühel always has the boasting rights for being the first non-glacier ski resort to open in Austria every ski season.
