A hidden gem near Kufstein
The Kaiserlift in Kufstein, a single-seater chairlift that offers you a unique experience. By yourself, you glide quietly up to the mountain station in your chair, surrounded by nature. It is almost a moment of reflection. Take a moment to relax and enjoy the surroundings. Today, almost everything is focused on bigger and faster, but not in Kufstein. Here, you can still enjoy a nostalgic experience while you have no choice but to surrender to the tranquillity. It may seem a little exciting and adventurous to sit alone in a chairlift, but it is more than worth the experience.
The Kaiserlift
The Kaiserlift is located on Kufstein's city mountain and was opened in 1971. It connects Kufstein with the Brentenjoch and the Steinberg area. When you board in the valley at an altitude of 502 metres, you travel via the Duxer Alm middle station (895 metres) to the mountain station at an altitude of 1,256 metres.
It was one of the first single-seater chairlifts in Tyrol and took both hikers and winter sports enthusiasts up the mountain. For generations, it was a popular means of transport for Kufstein and the surrounding area. However, this period came to an end in 2010. The lift was shut down because modernisation was necessary. For many, it felt as if a piece of Kufstein had disappeared.
Fortunately, the city decided not to let the Kaiserlift go to waste. In 2015, a thorough renovation followed: the technology was adapted to modern requirements, but the nostalgic charm was retained. No busy eight-person gondolas, but the same single seats that take you up slowly and quietly. This brought the lift back to life, no longer as a purely practical means of transport, but as a conscious experience of nature.
The experience en route
A ride on the Kaiserlift takes about thirty minutes, which is exactly the intention. Whereas modern lifts shoot you up at breakneck speed, the Kaiserlift takes its time. As your chair moves gently along, the landscape of Kufstein opens up below you. First you see the town with its imposing fortress complex, but soon you are engulfed by forests and mountains.
The best part is the silence. You won't hear any engines roaring or crowds cheering, just the sound of your chair rolling over the rollers of a support pillar, the rustling of leaves and birds singing at the top of their lungs. It gives you the chance to pause for a moment, or rather, to sit still and really take in nature. Many visitors call it an almost meditative experience. The fact that you are sitting alone in your chair makes the moment even more intense. You can't help but let go and surrender to the tranquillity of the mountains.
View
A ride on the Kaiserlift is really worthwhile, because once you reach the top, you have a fantastic view of the Wilder Kaiser and the Zahmer Kaiser (Kaiser Mountains). Behind the summit of the Brentenjoch lies a high plateau. Here you can enjoy wonderful walks and views of the entire Wilder Kaiser. There are plenty of Almen where you can stop for something to eat and drink. We had something to eat at the Weinbergerhaus, a restaurant with a beautiful view of Kufstein and the valley in which it lies. The Käsebrot is very good and tasty at the Weinberghaus, highly recommended.
Kaisertal
In addition to the view of the Wilder Kaiser, you also have a beautiful view of the Kaisertal from the mountain station. Until 2008, the Kaisertal (44 inhabitants in 2018) was only accessible on foot. The easiest route at the time was from the village of Ebbs, and you could reach the valley via a staircase with 285 steps.
In 2008, a tunnel was opened, making the Kaisertal (Keizerdal) accessible by car, but only for residents. This made it the last valley in Austria that was not connected to the traffic network. In 2016, the Kaisertal was the winner of the programme ‘9 Plätze - 9 Schätze’ (9 Places - 9 Treasures), in which the most beautiful places in Austria were chosen.
Facts at a glance
• Original construction date: 1971
• Type: chairlift
• Capacity: 1 person per chair
• Altitude of valley station: 502 m
• Altitude of middle station: 895 m
• Altitude of mountain station: 1,256 m
• Length of the first section: 1313m
• Length of the second section: 1167m
• Duration of the ride: 30 minutes
• Speed: 2.25m/sec
• Owner: Stadtwerke Kufstein (municipality of Kufstein)
Address details
Kaiserlift Kufstein
Obere Sparchen 17
A-6330 Kufstein
Tel: +43/(0)5372/69 30
info@kaiserlift.at
url: Website Kaiserlift
The Kaiserlift is not an attraction for speed or adrenaline. It is a journey back in time, a reminder of simplicity, and above all, an opportunity to truly experience nature. Whether you want to take a leisurely stroll or simply experience the silence, the lift brings you closer to the mountains and to yourself. So if you have the time and, like us, enjoy peace and simplicity, this is a chairlift you really must try.
