This building had been for a long period the residence of the Lords of Bressanone/Brixen. It was built in the XIII century in a decentralized position, close to the south-western wall of the town.
Its defensive function is testimonied by the presence of a moat all around the castle and by its particular position inside Bressanone.
Its rooms guest, since 1976, the Diocesan museum where pieces of sacred sculpture of the XIII century are exhibited. Among the artists there are Leonardo da Bressanone, Jörg Lederer and Lucas Cranach the oldest. During the centuries the castle had been restored several times, but it always kept its original position.
The most important restoration was made in 1600 by Alberto Lucchese: the ashlar portal, the baroque frames of the windows. The courtyard still keeps an Italian style and is closed by on two sides by three series of open galleries. Worth a mention are the statues in the niches of the second open gallery representing the Habsburgs, made by Hans Reichle in the XVII century.
Besides the Diocesan Museum it is possible to visit the chapel of the 1701 and the Imperial and Bishop's apartments dated 1710. Furnishing of these rooms are dated back to the XVII and XVIII centuries with precious stuccos, frames, ceramics and original furniture, portraits of Popes and religious motifs. Worth a mention is also the Cribs collection.
Opening hours
OCTOBER - MAY
daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
JUNE - SEPTEMBER
daily from 10 a.m. to 6.30 p.m.
CLOSED
Easter Sunday
24th & 25th December
Admission
Prices
10€ - adults
8€ - seniors, students, groups of 10 or more people
5€ - children, young people (6-18 years), school classes
Free for children up to 6 years of age
There is no separate admission ticket for the Crib Collection, only a single ticket for the Hofburg at the above-mentioned prices.
Guided tours:
On Tuesdays and Thursdays we offer guided tours in German, at 3 p.m.
Wednesdays and Fridays in Italian: 3 p.m.
The supplement for the guided tour is € 5 per person plus admission (the same price of € 5 always applies to adults and children).
How to get to Hofburg - Bishop Palace
By car (from the south):
Brennero motorway A22, exit Chiusa-Val Gardena, continue for about 8 km. towards Bressanone up to Autosilo Bressanone in via Dante (directly on the highway), from there walk towards the center, via Santa Croce, via Sant'Erardo, then turn right towards the Bishop Palace
By car (from the North):
Brennero motorway A22, exit Bressanone-Val Pusteria (Varna), proceed for about 5 km. on the state road in the direction of Bressanone, after the second roundabout possibility to leave the car in the parking lot in via Brennero, then continue on foot towards the cathedral and the Episcopal Palace (10 min.); alternatively: by car to the Autosilo Bressanone in via Dante (directly on the main road), from there walk towards the center, via Santa Croce, via Sant'Erardo, then turn right towards the Bishop Palace (5 min.)
By train:
Line Verona-Brennero, stop Bressanone (all international trains, as well as the IC / EC stop at Bressanone), from there by taxi or walk along Via Stazione, Viale Regensburg, via Bastioni Minori, via Sant'Erardo, then turn right towards the Bishop Palace (10 min.)
For further information
P.zza Palazzo Vescovile 2
I-39042 Bressanone
Tel.: (+39) 0472 830505
