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Kitzbühel_by_night.jpg
Kitzbühel is a city in Tyrol, Austria, situated along the river Kitzbühler Ache. The geographical location is Template:Coor dm. It is the administrative center of the district (Bezirk) Kitzbühel.
Kitzbühel's average elevation is 762 meters above sea level. The municipality has a population of 8,574 (May 2001) and a total area of 58.02 km².
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History
First known settlers between 1100 BC and 800 BC were Illyrians mining copper in the hills near Kitzbühel.
Around 15 BC 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 12th 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.
Kitzbühel became part of Upper Bavaria in 1255. Duke Louis II. granted Kitzbühel the rights of a city on June 6 1271, and it was fortified with mighty city walls. During the next centuries the city became a center of trade, grew steadily and never was affected by wars. So the city walls were razed at the level of the first floor and used for building new houses.
When Margarete Maultasch married Bavarii Duke Louis V the Brandenburger in 1342, Kitzbühel became part of Tyrol. After the Peace of Schärding 1369 it was given back to Bavaria. On June 30 1504 Kitzbühel became part of Tyrol again when Austrian Emperor Maximilian conquered Kitzbühel and Kufstein.
Maximilian took mortgage on Kitzbühel, and so at the end of 16th century it came under the rule of the Counts of Lamberg. On May 1 1840 Kitzbühel was given to the state of Austria in a ceremony.
The wars of the 18. and 19th 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, the citys trade and industry flourished. Also during World War I and World War II Kitzbühel was lucky to remain far from the areas of war.
Tourism
Kitzbühel is one of Austria's best known and fanciest winter sport resorts, situated between the mountains Hahnenkamm (1712 m) and Kitzbühler Horn (1996 m). The Hahnenkamm is home of the annual world cup ski races, including the circuit's most important event, the downhill race on the famous Streif slope. During summer time Kitzbühel also hosts an ATP tennis tournament on clay.
Twin towns
Kitzbühel is twinned with
- Greenwich, Connecticut, United States, since 1961
- Yamagata, Yamagata, Japan, since 1963
- Sun Valley, Idaho, United States, since 1967
- Sterzing, Italy, since 1971
- Rueil-Malmaison, France, since 1979
- Bad Soden am Taunus, Germany, since 1984
External links
- Tourist office Kitzbühel (http://www.kitzbuehel.at/noflash_en.asp)
- Kitzbühel Ski Slopes Photo Gallery (http://sabin.ro/gallery/album314)de:Kitzbühel