|
The first known settlers, who arrived between
1100 BCE and 800 BCE, were Illyrians mining
copper in the hills near Kitzbühel. Around
15 BCE the 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 twelfth century the name Chizbuhel is
mentioned for the first time in a document of the
Chiemsee monastery. Chizzo relates to a Bavarii
clan and Bühel to the location of 'a
settlement upon a hill'.
Kitzbühel became part of Upper Bavaria in
1255. Louis II, Duke of Bavaria granted
Kitzbühel the rights of a city on June 6,
1271, and it was fortified with large city walls.
During the next few centuries the city became a
centre of trade unaffected by wars. The city
walls were razed to a suitable level and
incorporated into the construction of new
houses.
When Margarete Maultasch married Duke Louis V
the Brandenburger in 1342, Kitzbühel became
part of Tirol but following the Peace of
Schärding (1369) it was given back to
Bavaria. On June 30, 1504 Kitzbühel became
part of Tirol again when Austrian Emperor
Maximilian conquered Kitzbühel and
Kufstein.
Kitzbühel, at the end of sixteenth century,
came under the rule of the Counts of Lamberg. On
May 1, 1840 Kitzbühel was given to the state
of Austria. Some inhabitants participated in the
Tirolean rebellion against Napoleon.
Kitzbühel once more became part of Bavaria
after the Treaty of Pressburg, but was reunited
by the Congress of Vienna with Tirol after the
fall of Napoleon .
|
There are some beautiful churches in
Kitzbühel. At the northern end of the old
town stands the parish church (Pfarrkirche St
Andreas), built during the years 1435 to
1506.
The lower part of the Church of Our Lady
(Liebfrauenkirche) dates from the 13th century,
the upper part from 1570.
Between these two churches stands the Ölberg
Chapel (Ölbergkapelle) with a 1450 "lantern
of the dead" and frescoes from the latter part of
the 16th century.
The Pfarrkirche (parish church) was renovated in
the baroque style during the 18th century. It is
a large building with a low tower and Baroque
dome. The interior has some beautiful stucco work
and ceiling paintings, and 15th frescos in the
choir. Adjoining the choir is the Rosakapelle,
with tracery windows and a ceiling painting of St
Rosa (c. 1750). Also of note is the high altar, a
work by the 17th century Kitzbühel sculptor
S. B. Faistenberger. ...
|
