Brunico Castle is located on the top of the hill overlooking the town of Brunico in the Pusteria Valley. First mentioned in 1271 as 'castrum Bruneke', it was built by the prince-bishop of Brixen, Bruno von Kirchberg in 1251. Since 2011 it has housed Reinhold Messner's fifth museum, the MMM Ripa, dedicated to the mountain peoples.
The history of Brunico Castle
The imposing castle was built in the Pustertal valley to defend the bishops' possessions and the town of Bruneck was built around it in the second half of the 13th century.
The structure of Bruneck Castle was renovated and extended over time by the various bishops who lived there, such as Albert von Enna (1324 - 1336) and Urlich Putsch (1427 - 1437). In 1825, the manor house was handed over to the town and used as a troop quarters and prison, and from 1969 it was converted into school rooms. In 2004 the castle was purchased by the Cassa di Risparmio Foundation and the use of the premises was transferred to the town of Brunico.
Today Bruneck Castle can be reached by a pleasant walk from the town centre up the hill. Access is through the south gate, where there was once a drawbridge. The inner courtyard of the castle contains a circular tower with a staircase leading to the upper rooms, where the bishop's rooms and a small chapel are located. On the right-hand side are the bishops' quarters, on the left-hand side are the administrator's flats and staff quarters.
Prices
| Ticket | price |
|---|---|
| Adult | € 14,00 |
| Children aged 6 – 18 | € 6,00 |
| Students | € 12,00 |
| Senior citizens (65 and above) | € 12,00 |
| Family ticket (2 adults with children under 14 years) | € 32,00 |
| Mini Family ticket (1 adults with children under 14 years) | € 18,00 |
| Groups (15 persons or more) | € 12,00/person |
| School classes | € 6,00/person |
| People with disabilities | € 12,00 |
| with Geo-Card | 2 tickets for the price of 1 |
| with museumobilcard | free |
MMM Tour-Ticket
The MMM Tour-Ticket is a combined ticket for one visit each to Firmian, Juval, Ortles, Ripa, Dolomites and Corones. The ticket is valid for one year from the date of issue and is available at all Messner Mountain Museums.
| Adult | Concession* | Family Ticket | Children | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | € 55,00 | € 45,00 | € 125,00 | € 25,00 |
Opening hours
MMM Ripa is open from the second Sunday of May to the 1st sunday of November (10 a.m. – 6 p.m), and from 7th December (closed on 24 and 25 December) to the 25th of April, 12 noon – 6 p.m.
Doors close at 5 p.m. | Closed on Tuesdays
How to get there
- From the Modena-Brenner motorway (A22), exit at Bressanone and follow the SS49 in the direction of Brunico centro.
- From the motorway Venezia-Belluno (A27), continue on the SS51 to Dobbiaco, then on the SS49 towards Brunico centro.
For further information
Messner Mountain Museum Ripa - Bruneck Castle
Vicolo del Castello, 2
I-39031 Bruneck (BZ)
Tel. (+39) 0474 410220
