Notes on the Geography of Austria : Kufstein

The Inn is the main river of the Tyrol, and it flows east then north into Germany and the Danube.  It's been a highway since at least Roman times, and traffic between Germany and Italy still comes up the river before heading south at Innsbruck and climbing the Brenner Pass.  Kufstein, hardly a competitor for the tourist meccas like nearby Kitzbuhel, fronts the Inn just before the river enters Germany.  In short, it was an obvious site for a fortress controlling a strategic route, especially because there's a hill ready-made for fortification.

Make default image size smaller

We're atop that hill now and looking south, or upstream. Since the 13th century this hill has been occupied by the very substantial Geroldseck Fortress.  There were soldiers here until 1872.

There's a cog railway to the top, but this is better: the path up to the 16th century Kaiserturm.

Up top, there's a lot of room, not only for buildings but for extensive tunnels and parade grounds.

The gentler way up: behind the cog railway is the Burgerturm.

Secure enough? Looking down to the Inn.

Slightly downstream: the Unterer Stadtplatz.

The central business district: Kufstein today has about 15,000 people and is less than an hour from Munich by autobahn.

The lower city square.

Medieval styles echo even in much newer buildings.