Bruneck (Brunico) Castle lies on the top of the hill that dominates Brunico, the city on the Rienza river. In the middle of the 13th century , the bishop of Bressanone, Bruno von Kirchberg, commissioned the building of the castle in order to protect his lands in the Val Pusteria, laying the foundations for the city of Brunico.
The interiors of the castle host numerous emblems of the bishops who lived here: Albert von Enna (1323-1326), Ulrich Putsch (1427-1437), Andreas of Austria (1591-1600), the bishops of Spaur and Welsperg. All of them contributed to the building of the castle, either by extending or restoring it.Unfortunately, many of the frescos in the rooms and halls of the castle are poorly preserved. However, the unique atmosphere of the castle still attracts many visitors.
In July 2011 the fifth MMM, Messner Mountain Museum, was opened at Brunico Castle. Its interactive collection mainly focuses on the everyday culture of mountain people like Sherpas, Indios, Tibetans, Mongols and Hunzas.
References:The Broch of Gurness is an Iron Age broch village. Settlement here began sometime between 500 and 200 BC. At the centre of the settlement is a stone tower or broch, which once probably reached a height of around 10 metres. Its interior is divided into sections by upright slabs. The tower features two skins of drystone walls, with stone-floored galleries in between. These are accessed by steps. Stone ledges suggest that there was once an upper storey with a timber floor. The roof would have been thatched, surrounded by a wall walk linked by stairs to the ground floor. The broch features two hearths and a subterranean stone cistern with steps leading down into it. It is thought to have some religious significance, relating to an Iron Age cult of the underground.
The remains of the central tower are up to 3.6 metres high, and the stone walls are up to 4.1 metres thick.