Museum Kitzbühel

The Museum Kitzbühel – Alfons Walde Collection is situated in two of the town’s oldest historic buildings and provides a unique insight into Kitzbühel’s and the surrounding region’s history and culture. Visitors are taken through the town’s history and winter sports with Toni Sailer and the famous “Kitzbühel Ski Miracle Team” of the 1950s through selected displays and video and sound works. The museum’s permanent collection is concentrated on Alfons Walde. The Kitzbühel painter’s work is displayed extensively on the third floor and attic, with 60 paintings and over 100 graphics, drawings, photographs, and prints.

Alfons Walde was born in 1891 in Oberndorf, near Kitzbühel. He studied architecture in Vienna and became a successful architect, but his true passion was painting. He was influenced by the expressionist movement and developed his own style of depicting the Alpine landscape and the people who lived there. He used bright colors, geometric shapes, and dynamic compositions to create vivid and lively scenes of skiing, farming, and village life. He also painted portraits of famous personalities, such as the writer Thomas Mann and the composer Richard Strauss.

Walde was one of the most prominent and influential artists of the Tyrolean region. He helped to establish the Kitzbühel Artists’ Guild and organized exhibitions and cultural events. He also designed the logo and the posters for the Hahnenkamm race, the most prestigious ski race in the world, which takes place every year in Kitzbühel. He died in 1958 in Kitzbühel, leaving behind a rich and diverse legacy of paintings, drawings, and prints.

The Museum Kitzbühel has the largest and most comprehensive collection of Walde’s works, spanning his entire career. Some of the highlights include:

• Winter Day in Kitzbühel (1926): A panoramic view of the town and the mountains, with skiers and sleighs in the foreground. The painting shows Walde’s mastery of perspective and color, as well as his love for his hometown.
• The Red Church (1930): A striking contrast between the red church tower and the white snow, with a group of people walking towards it. The painting reflects Walde’s interest in the religious and social aspects of Tyrolean life.
• Ski Race (1931): A dynamic and energetic depiction of a ski race, with the skiers in different poses and expressions. The painting captures the excitement and the challenge of the sport, as well as Walde’s own involvement as a skier and a promoter.

The Museum Kitzbühel is a must-see for anyone who wants to learn more about the town and its culture. It offers a unique insight into the life and work of Alfons Walde, one of the most important and influential artists of the Tyrolean region. It also presents a fascinating overview of the history of Kitzbühel, from the Bronze Age to the present day, including its development as a sports destination. The museum is located in the center of the town, in a historic building that was once a granary. It is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 17:00. The admission fee is 8 euros for adults, 4 euros for students and seniors, and free for children under 14. The museum also offers guided tours, workshops, and special events.