Bruneck Castle

Brunico, Italy

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.

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Details

Founded: c. 1250
Category: Castles and fortifications in Italy

Rating

4.3/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Tom van den Heuvel (12 months ago)
A little disappointed about the lack off information about the building. But some very interesting information about the history of people around the world. There is also a cafe/bistro. But it only had one staff member, and was not able to keep up. He really needed more staff!! But he did the best he could
Andrej Chernysh (14 months ago)
Castle was closed when we arrived but at least there was a nice view upon the town below. Only ugly thing was the lawn which is quite unkempt.
Betta Rautio (14 months ago)
Fascinating palace for those interested in learning about mountain life all over the world. Senior citizen, family, and children discounts are available. Parking at the bottom was free on Sundays and is in within about 100 meters from the entrance. You do walk up a fairly steep hill. Once inside the facility is very clean. There are many stairs to climb, husband did notice an elevator near the tower area. We were impressed with the amount of displays with adequate room to move without people bunching up together. Information was available in three languages. We got to tour the whole castle and each area was targeted by location and people. Maps were displayed showing the location being showcased. To get the most out of this museum plan on spending 2-3 hours. There are cinemas throughout, displays, and you are presented a map with a suggested route to follow. This is a showcase of collections and the castle is not the target of the visit. Young children may not appreciate the collection. Note on Sundays not much was open in the town itself. We found one open bar. Check the website as hours change season to season. Noticed that one visitor’s review stated no photos allowed beyond the first floor. We never saw any signs anywhere stating this, so I recommend you check with the staff before you begin your tour. We did notice some no touch signs and were respect. Lastly, the tower stairs are sometimes dark and narrow so it may be difficult to pass. The tower floor at the top was unnerving as it was weathered and you could feel the bowing as you walked around. The views were incredible but we got off quickly as we didn’t want to be up there with too many people. All in all we recommend this castle if you are in the area.
Eldora Chan (15 months ago)
Love our guide. It was just her second day. Nice guiding. Love the stories. The castle is in great condition. Taking pictures is only allowed on the 1st floor. So... just visit the castle if you are interested in. It is worthed.
Stefan Munich (2 years ago)
A wonderful museum with a deep impact on my mind and soul...
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