Söll - Kitzbühel

The rain was still hanging about this morning but cleared shortly after we opened the blinds. The view down the valley was a little clearer, and improved as the  morning progressed.. We had a leisurely breakfast before leaving for Kitzbühel in the Kitzbüheler Alpen region of the Tyrol.  

Views leaving the Gasthof this morning. 

The route we took was through the Wilder Kaiser Valley with the first stop being the village of Söll, a very popular stopping spot for walkers and bikers who were planning more adventurous excursions in the Wilder Kaiser mountains. We took the more leisurely options of walking around the village and admiring another  decorated Tyrolese village. Söll doubles as a very popular winter sports centre as well.  

 

The timber industry is a huge business throughout the Tyrol. 

Our next stop was Kitzbühel. We did a little shopping before having lunch. We later ventured into the village where they were celebrating the firefighters of the region. 

Kitzbühel is a small medieval town that these days turns into an upper-class playground during the winter months - luckily we visited in summer! The first settlement here was over 3000 years ago when a tribe mined copper in the surrounding hills. The Romans arrived around 15 BC, and after the Romans the Bavarians settled and started clearing the forest. It remained pretty much under Barvarian control for centuries before being taken into the Austrian domain. The town remained undamaged during the 1st and 2nd WW. 

St Catherine Church - built in 1360-1365 with the elaborate high-gothic design and the coppersmith altar. The high tower is the striking landmark of the town. 
The prosperity of Kitzbühel stemmed from the copper mining, but towards the end of the 19th century the first skiers from Norway arrived and so the town discovered a more lucrative source of income - ski tourism! 

 Shops selling traditional Austrian clothing for both men and women. 

A market was underway in Kitzbühel with some interesting items available to purchase. 

We later drove on and up the Pass Thurn where, at the top,  we spent the rest of the afternoon and evening. Fantastic views down the other side of the mountains towards the town of Mittersill.