Kelchsau

Kelchsau is a valley and village in the Kitzbühel Alps of Tirol. The valley stretches south from Hopfgarten im Brixental for about ten kilometres before splitting into two branches, the western Langen Grund and the eastern Kurzer Grund. These branches climb to the main ridge of the Kitzbühel Alps on the Salzburg border, where peaks reach up to 2500 metres. The Kelchsauer Ache river flows through the valley, fed by smaller streams such as the Wurzenraingraben and Zillbach near the village centre. To the west lies the Wildschönau valley and to the east the Windau valley, while the valley itself is served by an 8.3-kilometre road known as the Kelchsaustraße. The village of Kelchsau is a small settlement of 766 people on the valley floor at 790 metres above sea level. It grew in the 12th century around a clearing and a dairy farm that became a manor, first recorded in 1272 as Chelsowe. The church of St Rupert was built in 1851 and Kelchsau became an independent parish in 1891. The surrounding area includes scattered houses in Kurzer Grund and Langen Grund, along with numerous farmsteads, alpine pastures, hunting lodges and mountain huts. The valley’s history is tied to Hopfgarten-Land, which merged with Hopfgarten-Markt in 1948. Today Kelchsau is known for its seasonal tourism. In summer the valley’s many alpine pastures produce milk, butter, cheese and cured meats, while the Kurzer Grund and Langen Grund offer extensive walking routes. The valley also serves as a stage on the KAT Walk, a long-distance trail through the Kitzbühel Alps. Though the small ski area with its chairlift and conveyor belts closed in 2021, the landscape remains a quiet retreat with high peaks, clear rivers and traditional farm buildings scattered across the hillsides.