When we talk about history there we are not necessarily talking about the past. Kitzbühel is home to many legends and has produced a string of heroes and victors such as Toni Sailer & Co. Year in, year out it is the setting for sporting events which, in their turn, are history in the making. The passion for its legendary roots, the enthusiasm for sport and a love of the finer things in life have become a way of life. The Kitzbühel way of life.

Shaped by its extensive scenery, together with the majestic mountain backdrop of the Wilder Kaiser, the Kitzbüheler Horn and the world-famous Hahnenkamm, the old town of Kitzbühel with its colourful houses illustrated by local artist and architect Alfons Walde has a very special charm of its own. The historic lanes and streets harbour exclusive boutiques and stylish bars and restaurants. Houses of rank and repute maintain branches here – from the classy tailor to the French jeweller. In the summer the restaurant and café chairs move outside and in the run-up to Christmas the special market lends a festive atmosphere to the little town. The old town with its cobblestones might be quaint, but there is no lack of mondaine flair. Nowadays numerous guests try to get rich in Kitzbühel Casino, the excitement rising over poker and black jack.

However, Kitzbühel also seems to be a town of contrasts. It is this bond between sport and lifestyle and the traditional and the modern which makes Kitzbuehel a town that is the stuff of legend - unique - self-assured – a town which casts a spell over us. In particular, the legend that surrounds the Hahnenkamm Race seems to find no superlative. For insiders and racers it is just known as “the race”. A race that takes skiers’ and spectators’ breath away and defines the character of this little town better than words ever could.

Great attraction

Kitzbühel celebrated a heyday in the 1960s when VIPs like Kirk Douglas, the Aga Khan or Coco Chanel honoured the town with their presence attracted by local legends such as Toni Sailer & Co. In the last couple of years much has again been going on at the foot of the Hahnenkamm. New hotels have opened and are proud of the illustrious names on their guest list: Bryan Adams enjoys coming here, so do Seal and Prince Albert of Monaco. Demi Moore and Donna Karan have even been known to have enjoyed the extensive wellness treatments in one of the new luxury hotels with a special kind of Alpine Lifestyle.

Apropos hotels, a whole series of Kitzbühel hotels – e.g. the Schwarzer Adler, the Weißes Rössl, the Bichlhof or the Tennerhof – have invested good money in renovations and have spruced everything up. The result is well worth seeing: state-of-the-art hotels with Tyrolean tradition and an inimitable charm delight holidaymakers from all over the world. The Hotel Schwarzer Adler won the 2008 state prize for architecture for its 500 sq. m. "Kitz Summer Spa" with a spectacular rooftop pool and for the unusual new hotel rooms (www.adlerkitz.at). The Hotel Weißes Rössl now boasts Austria's biggest suite with private cinema. The suite is a proud 370 sq. m. and covers three floors. The Weißes Rössl was also awarded the "5 Star Diamond Award 2008", the oscar of the hotel branch, as it were (www.roesslkitz.at). The long established Relais & Châteaux Hotel Tennerhof scores with its noblesse and luxury. This old manor house dating from 1679 has retained its traditional flair and the hotel also boasts magnificent cuisine
(www.tennerhof.com).

The Grand SPA Resort A-Rosa with its comprehensive wellness and beauty amenities provides guests with holidays at the highest level. That is why it is also a favourite of international stars. The RELAX guide recently awarded the SPA-ROSA three lilies. The hotel has its own golf course and three more are to be found in the immediate vicinity (www.a-rosa.de). Hotel Schloss Lebenberg has been thoroughly renovated and provides its guests with a stylish atmosphere above the rooftops of Kitzbühel (www.austriatrend.at/leb). In July 2009 the Grand Tirolia Resort opened at the Eichenheim golf course. The hotel is a successful fusion of the traditional and the modern, luxury and local originality. A library with open fireplace is available, likewise the golf course with all amenities such as a golf school, a golf bistro, a pro shop and its own clubhouse (www.grand-tirolia.com), while awarded Chef Bobby Braeuer is pampering houseguests with culinary delights. However, this is just a small extract of ongoing hotel developments in the legendary region of Kitzühel. You also need to check out the following charming hotels, which all have a character of their own, promising the new Kitzbühel Lifestyle and top notch services: Sport- & Wellnesshotel Bichlhof (www.bichlhof.at), Premier Best Western Hotel Kaiserhof (www.hotel-kaiserhof.at), Hotel Kitzhof – Mountain Design Resort (www.hotel-kitzhof.com), Golf-Hotel Rasmushof deluxe (www.rasmushof.at), Hotel Zur Tenne (www.hotelzurtenne.com), Astoria Kitzbühel (www.astoria-kitzbuehel.at).

It is inseparably linked with Kitzbühel, the most famous skiing race in the world: the Hahnenkamm Race. Every year in January this hair-raising event on the Streif turns the little town with its population of 8,000 into a madhouse. Stars from all sectors throng the streets and the legendary "Weißwurst Party" at the Stanglwirt just nearby is an absolute "must" for VIPs. This sporting mega-event gets Kitzbühel into the party mood. The race is the sporting and social highlight and the climax of the World Cup calendar. But Kitzbühel is also the site of other great international sports fixtures. The Cordial Cup, one of Europe's biggest football tournaments for up-and-coming players, has been held in Kitzbühel for over ten years now and Kitzbühel Alpine Rally is a byword for vintage car enthusiasts. The cars – Aston Martins, Bentleys, Rolly Royces or Maseratis - come from all over Europe to whizz through the superb scenery of the Kitzbühel Alps. As mentioned, Kitzbühel is a golfing paradise. Only here can you tee off at an altitude of 1,658 m asl and hole out via the Mausefalle and the Hausbergkante on the original Hahnenkamm racing course. At the legendary Kitzbühel Golf Festival play continues for a week on four of the loveliest courses in the Alps: the GC Eichenheim, GC Schwarzsee, GC Kitzbühel Kaps and GLC Rasmushof. Among the venues for the ITU World Championship Series are Singapore (pop. 4.5 millionen), London (pop. 7.5 million), Yokohama (pop. 35 million) and Kitzbühel (pop. 8,000). Little wonder then that triathlon events take over in July!

Further information:
Kitzbühel Tourism
+43.5356.777
Mr. Stefan Puehringer
s.puehringer@kitzbuehel.com
www.kitzbuehel.com