Kufstein (German pronunciation:[ˈkʊfˌʃtaɪ̯n]ⓘ;Central Bavarian:Kufstoa) is a town in theAustrian state ofTyrol, the administrative seat ofKufstein District. With a population of about 20,000 it is the second largest Tyrolean town after the state capitalInnsbruck. The greatest landmark isKufstein Fortress, first mentioned in the 13th century. The town was the place of origin of the Austrian noble familyKuefstein.
The municipal arrangement comprises thecadastral communities of Kufstein, Morsbach and Thierberg; the town itself is divided into five quarters (Zentrum, Sparchen, Weissach, Endach, and Zell).
Glass manufacturerRiedel, haulage contractorLKW Walter, gunmakerVoere, and textile mat manufacturerKleen-Tex are based in Kufstein.
Kufstein is also home to theUniversity of Applied Sciences Kufstein which specializes in providing business education and is a center for international exchange.
Archaeological findings in theTischofer Cave in Kaisertal denote a settlement of the area more than 30,000 years ago, the oldest traces of human habitation in Tyrol. Incorporated into theRoman Empire in 15 BC, the Inn river formed the border between theRoman provinces ofRaetia andNoricum.
Emperor Maximilian entering Kufstein, 1836 drawing
In the early 14th century, theWittelsbach emperorLouis IV, also Bavarian duke, vested the Kufstein citizens with rights of jurisdiction. Kufstein passed to theCounty of Tyrol in 1342, when it was a wedding gift to CountessMargaret from her husband, Emperor Louis's sonLouis the Brandenburger. However, it fell back to Bavaria upon Margaret's death in 1369. DukeStephen III of Bavaria granted Kufsteincity status in 1393, due to its prominence as a trading and docking point on the Inn River.[3] From 1415 onwards, his son and successor DukeLouis VII had the Fortress largely rebuilt and expanded.
The possession of the strategically important Kufstein border fortress remained disputed. In 1504, theHabsburg emperorMaximilian I took the opportunity of theWar of the Succession of Landshut within the Bavarian Wittelsbach dynasty: hisAustrian forces laid siege to the town, and at theImperial Diet inCologne the next year, the emperor resolved upon the cession of the Kufstein territories to the Habsburg lands of Tyrol. Maximilian had the prominentKaiserturm tower of the fortress erected, which was finished in 1522.
In the 19th century, Kufstein Fortress was turned into a bastille for political prisoners, such as theHungarian outlawSándor Rózsa, who spent several years here before he was finally pardoned in 1868. The town's economic development was decisively promoted by the opening of theLower Inn Valley Railway line in 1858.
Architecture style typical for Tirol.Kufstein FortressWasserbastion, a part of the medieval wall.Saint Vitus Church.AnnualAlmabtrieb "Umzug" in Kufstein
Due to its long history, the city of Kufstein has various sights to offer:
The Fortress (Festung) is built on a rock the height of which amounts to 90 metres (300 feet). Sometimes erroneously calledSchloss Garoldseck, the fortress was mentioned asCastrum Caofstein in a document for the first time in 1205. It was enlarged several times. The most important tower, the round and impressiveKaiserturm, was built from 1518 to 1522. Several times in its history, the fortress was used as a prison. Today it is famous for its large organ (Heldenorgel).
The old city center (Altstadt) with several picturesque lanes the most famous of which isRömerhofgasse.
The sightworthy City Hall (Rathaus) is on a square calledStadtplatz.
Saint Vitus Church is the oldest church of Kufstein. It was built from 1390 to 1420 in a typicalGothic style. Later, it was converted into abaroque church from 1660 to 1661.
A part of the medieval city wall is well preserved and worth a visit. The sightworthyWasserbastei is in the Northern part of the old city center on the riverInn. In the Southern part of the wall, a former gate calledAuracher Löchl can be seen.
Locations in and around Kufstein have been used for a number of films and television programmes:Destiny (1942),Mountain Crystal (1949),Bluebeard (1951),White Shadows (1951),Das letzte Aufgebot (1953),The Flying Classroom (1954),Graf Porno und die liebesdurstigen Töchter (1969),Vanessa (1977),Sachrang (1978), TV documentary seriesBilderbuch Deutschland (1996),Da wo das Glück beginnt (2006),Da wo es noch Treue gibt (2006), andDa wo die Freundschaft zahlt (2007). For further information see theInternet Movie Database.
The songKufsteinlied [de] (also calledDas Kufsteiner Lied), originally composed by Karl Ganzer, has been covered by many musicians includingHeino andFranzl Lang.
^Chizzali. Tyrol: Impressions of Tyrol. (Innsbruck: Alpina Printers and Publishers), p. 44
^Eisterer, Klaus (1991).Französische Besatzungspolitik Tirol und Vorarlberg 1945/46-Innsbrucker Forschungen zur Zeitgeschichte Band 9 (in German). Innsbruck: Haymon Verlag. p. 104.
