Kitzbühel, Tirol: In the footsteps of Hansi Hinterseer, my grandmother’s hero

My dear grandmother is a huge fan of Austrian schlager singer Hansi Hinterseer and has been for many years. While we were in Austria last summer, my parents and I thought it would be fun to surprise her with a visit to his hometown.

Hansi grew up in the town of Kitzbühel, nestled beneath his beloved Tyrolean Alps. He often mentions the place where he grew up in his songs and interviews; the high mountains, the four seasons, the quiet lifestyle, how his childhood was rooted in nature. The area is also frequently featured in his music videos, so my grandmother knew it well even before we took her there.

The look on her face when we told her where we were, after our long two-hour drive from Sesselebene, was invaluable. Worth every kilometre.

What we discovered in Kitzbühel was much more than “just” the home of a folk music hero, it was also a gorgeous city with a well-preserved historic centre.

Although Kitzbühel is an internationally renowned ski resort catering mostly to wealthy ski tourists, there is plenty to experience if you’re not into skiing – or if you’re visiting during the summer like we were. The town’s old centre is found within the streets of Vorderstadt and Hinterstadt where brightly coloured medieval houses line the cobbled streets.

Towering above the colourful old centre are two churches perched atop a hill, surrounded by a tranquil mountain cemetery where a number of well-known locals have been laid to rest. The large gothic church, Stadtpfarrkirche St. Andreas, owes its appearance to local architect Stephen Krumenauer who had the church rebuilt in the 15th century atop of the remains of a Medieval church. Only its humble tower was built in Romanesque style, pointing back in time to the former church that once stood at the site.

The adjacent church, Liebfrauenkirche, carries a tower that is much too large for its modest structure. During the 16th century, the people of Kitzbühel purchased a new church bell which was too large for the original Romanesque church tower, and thus, a larger tower had to be built, creating this unique and rather clumsy looking church.

Despite the two churches’ gothic appearance, their interiors are dominated by the Baroque style. The high altar of the Stadtpfarrkirche St. Andreas and the frescoes in the Liebfrauenkirche were created by two local artists in this beautiful architectural style. Together, these two churches watch over Kitzbühel as a proud historic symbol of the town.

We found a cozy café in the old centre, and enjoyed a delicious lunch of burgers, potato fries and sweet potato fries (my favourite!). And then it was time to say farewell to Hansi’s beautiful hometown.

Driving out of the town, we made a quick stop at the local moor lake, the beautiful Schwarzsee where the high mountains reflected in the dark and still waters.

Before returning to our summer home in Sesselebene, we drove to the town of St Johann in Tirol, another ski resort town eleven kilometres from Kitzbühel.

A friend of my father had recommended us the town, and since we were already in the area, it was a fine place to visit for an afternoon stroll. It didn’t have the charm and coziness that we liked so much about Kitzbühel, but like any other Tyrolean town, it has a beautiful location below the Alps and would be a wonderful base for exploring the mountains.

Tired from the long day of exploring Hansi Hinterseer’s backyard, we returned to the highways for the two-hour drive home. It’s obvious to see why Hansi loves his hometown so much. Kitzbühel is a beautiful town with a fantastic classic Tyrolean atmosphere, so it was definitely worthwhile to follow in Hansi’s footsteps.

WANT MORE INFO?: Download a city guide for Kitzbühel with GPSmyCity here!