With a traditional Austrian feel and such beautiful streets as the Romerhofgasse, coupled together with the multitude of outdoor activities, Kufstein is a true tourist gem.
Kufstein is a town in the Austrian state of Tyrol, the administrative seat of Kufstein District. With a population of about 18,400, it is the second largest Tyrolean town after the state capital Innsbruck. The greatest landmark is Kufstein Fortress, first mentioned in the 13th century.
Economy
Glass manufacturer Riedel, gunmaker Voere, and textile mat manufacturer Kleen-Tex are based in Kufstein.
Kufstein is also home to the University of Applied Sciences Kufstein which specializes in providing business education and is a center for international exchange.
Sights
Kufstein is the second largest town in Tyrol after the capital of Innsbruck and has a population of just over 18,000. The town itself lies on the river Inn and is surrounded by the Northern Limestone Alps and edges onto the Bavarian Alpine Foreland.
Settlements and human presence has been dated as far back as the Stone Age, and also traces of the Roman Empire have been found. In later history, Kufstein saw many different rulers owing to its important position and the large fortress that remains an important part of the town’s culture today.
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 called Schloss Garoldseck, the fortress was mentioned as Castrum Caofstein in a document for the first time in 1205. It was enlarged several times. The most important tower, the round and impressive Kaiserturm, was built from 1518-22. 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 is Römerhofgasse.
- The sightworthy City Hall (Rathaus) is on a square called Stadtplatz.
- Saint Vitus Church is the oldest church of Kufstein. It was built from 1390-1420 in a typical Gothic style. Later, it was converted into a baroque church from 1660-61.
- A part of the medieval city wall is well preserved and worth a visit. The sightworthy Wasserbastei is in the Northern part of the old city center on the river Inn. In the Southern part of the wall, a former gate called Auracher Löchl can be seen.
Explore Kufstein
Kufstein Fortress
This imposing hillside fortress is without a doubt the most visited attraction in Kufstein and it is easy to see why.
Looming over the small town, the castle is hard to miss and has been an important site in the region of Tyrol for hundreds of years.
Conquered by the Emperor Maximillian II in the 1500’s the fortress saw much expansion with the inclusion of its outer walls and the huge iconic round tower.
The amazing location of the castle, its outstanding design and striking white walls, plus the views it offers over Kufstein make it a brilliant tourist attraction.
Inside the castle is a museum and the fabled open air organ which earns a slot in this article in its own right.
Totenkirchl Mountain
There is many climbing and hiking opportunities around Kufstein owing to the array of mountain ranges that dominate the landscape.
The Totenkirchl Mountain is one of these grand places and is possibly the finest rock climbing area in Austria, featuring over 50 different UIAA grade climbing routes.
The impressive limestone chimneys and epic rocky mountain scenery provide a stunning backdrop for climbers.
Kaiser Mountains
Part of the Northern Limestone Alps, the Kaiser Mountain range is one of the most impressive and visually stunning in Austria.
The whole range is located in the Tyrol region and is split into two main sections – The Zahmer Kaiser and The Wilder Kaiser.
The characteristic limestone rock and alpine forests that make up the mountain range create some amazing areas of natural beauty and make the Kaiser a spellbinding place to hike and climb in.
There are many different peaks, routes and paths to traverse in the range and you can see some fantastic sights like the secluded Hintersteinerse.
Pfrillsee
This small secluded lake is on the northern side of the river Inn approximately 15 minutes from the centre of Kufstein.
There are several parking bays on the main road for accessibility and then it takes a short walk through the woods to get to the lake.
The whole immediate area is surrounded by woodland and has many trails to hike through.
Pfrillsee itself is magical – The gorgeous ring of trees, the lush colours and the reflective low-lying water are a natural treasure and a perfect place to relax and be at one with your thoughts.
Kaiser Maximilian Funicular
A fun part of visiting the Kufstein Fortress is the remarkable Kaiser Maximillian Funicular that takes you up to the top of the castle grounds.
This incredibly steep railway climbs up the side of the rock base that the castle resides on and travels through a grand archway opening up to the immense round tower.
The carriages only hold a few people at a time but the Funicular provides a memorable way to reach the impressive fortress and it should definitely be used at least once as opposed to walking up the accessible paths.
Hechtsee & Stimmersee
Two more stunning lakes which are both larger than Pfrillsee but equally as enticing and are both excellent natural places to explore.
Located in the same area as Pfrillsee on the northern side of the river Inn, both lakes are surrounded by forest and have walking paths to saunter through.
Hechtsee has a promenade and pier at the eastern shore and also a café with plenty of parking spaces.
Stimmersee is smaller in size but still offers plenty of hiking opportunities.
