The beginnings of tourism

Kitzbühel around 1900

After extensive traffic development with the building of the railways in 1875 Kitzbühel’s rise to an international tourist destination started.

In the beginning it was the idyllic setting of the medieval town amidst lush meadows, framed by impressive mountains, the healing powers of the Schwarzsee moor lake, one of the most beautiful alpine bathing lakes what made it so attractive. Then, thanks to the vision of one man, started what made Kitzbühel world-famous.

Franz Reisch and other pioneers of tourisms gave the decisive impulses:

with the foundation of the winter sports association they founded the precursor of the Ski Club. The first public ski races took place and in 1902 the first big hotel was built. In 1909 the moor bath was built at exactly the same spot where today the Aquarena swimming baths are located.

The building of the Hahnenkamm lift from 1926 to 1928 was the first important step to make ski races at this local mountain accessible to the public.