Page 253 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2016 - Austria

T Y ROL and VOR a RLBERG  251

q Kufstein w St Johann in Tirol
Road map C4. * 18,000. £ @ Road map C4. * 9,000. £ @
Tel (05372) 62207. Tel (05352) 63335-0.
The remains of a Stone Age St Johann in Tirol is a popular
settlement have been found winter sports resort, boasting
in this health resort and tourist good downhill runs on the north-
centre on the Bavarian border. ern slopes of the Kitzbüheler
On a rocky hill to the north Horn and splendid conditions
of the town stands the Feste for cross-country skiing. The
Kufstein, a mighty fortress town has several Baroque build-
with a small barbican and ings with picturesque elevations,
the Emperor’s Tower. Today it and the walls of the parish house A picturesque snow-covered scene
houses a regional museum and, feature the original frescoes in Kitzbühel
on the ground floor of the from 1480. The first large
tower, the Heldenorgel (Heroes’ Baroque church in the area Kitzbüheler Horn to the north,
Organ), built to commemorate was built in 1728 by Abraham the Stuckkogel and the Thurn
all who were killed in World Millauer, on the site of an earlier Pass. This is where the famous
War I. The late-Gothic Church Gothic structure. Inside Mariä Hahnenkammrennen, a down-
of St Vitus was rebuilt in the Himmelfahrtskirche (church of hill skiing race, takes place at
17th century in the Baroque the Assumption of the Virgin the end of January each year.
style, but in the 20th century Mary) are magnificent vault Kitzbühel is more than a
it was partly returned to its paintings by one of the great sporting resort; untouched by
original Gothic appearance. masters of Baroque art, Simon wartime ravages, it has many
Nearby stands the Holy Trinity Benedikt Faistenberger. historic sights. The Andreas­
Chapel, with a beautiful Baroque kirche was built in 1435 on the
altar dating from 1765. site of a Romanesque church
e Kitzbühel and in 1785 it was rebuilt in the
Environs Road map C4. * 8,500. £ @ Baroque style. Inside are late-
Hechtsee and Stimmersee, n Hinterstadt 18 (05356) 66660. Gothic columns and 15th-
two small, scenic lakes west of ∑ kitzbuehel.com cen tury traceries and frescoes.
Kufstein, are excellent for water There is also an interesting
sports enthusiasts. About 30 km Once the undisputed winter main altar piece, by Simon
(22 miles) northeast of Kufstein, sports capital of the country, Benedikt Faistenberger.
beyond the Kaisergebirge ridge Kitzbühel now has to share its Adjacent to the parish church
known as Zahmer Kaiser (Tame crown with other resorts. is Liebfrauenkirche (church
Emperor), is Walchsee, a beguil- The Alpine town is surrounded of Our Lady), with a square
ing town and lake of the same by several mountain massifs, tower. The main altar is also by
name, with many fine houses with scores of well-signposted Faistenberger. The 14th-century
with picturesque façades and a trails. The best conditions are St Catherine’s church in the city
good water sports centre. The offered by the Hahnenkamm– centre is now a monument
road from Kufstein along the Steinbergkogel–Pengelstein to those killed in the two
Sparchenbach river leads to group to the southwest, the world wars.
Stripsenkopf, at 1,807 m (5,929
ft) the highest peak in the
Zahmer Kaiser range,
with great views of
the Kaisergebirge.

The mighty fortress with the Emperor’s Tower in Kufstein

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