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Hofburg Brixen

Hofburg & Diocesan Museum Brixen

Originally, the Hofburg or Bishop’s Palace in the centre of Brixen is a Medieval city castle that was built in the 13th century. Today’s form is a Renaissance and Baroque building, accommodating the Diocesan Museum and being the setting for different events all over the year.

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Until 1973, the Hofburg was the residence of the bishops of Brixen, who also had secular power until 1800. In fact, Brixen had an own court where also the name “Hofburg” comes from. In 1973, the episcopal see was transferred to Bozen and the Hof burg has since than been accommodating the Diocesan Museum and the Diocesan Archive.

A wonderful South Tyrolean castle courtyard

Towards the outside, the Hofburg in Brixen is a palace with four wings, three floors as well as two tower-like entrance buildings and a fortified moat on the south side. Today, a stonewalled bridge crosses the moat. Via an entrance hall decorated with stucco, the visitors can access to the impressive courtyard.

The court church is located in the west wing vis-à-vis the main entrance and is consecrated to St. Mary Immaculata. The Baroque interior offers countless frescoes, wonderful stucco decoration as well as a marble high altar. Particularly beautiful are also the bishop’s wing, the imperial wing as the artistic highlight as well as the office of the privy councillor.

Diocesan Museum Brixen

The collection of the Diocesan Museum includes sacral art from the Romanesque period until the modern age. Also, there are the Treasures of the Cathedral of Brixen, which is one of the most important in the Alps. As well as numerous liturgical instruments, vestments and reliquary busts.

Since 2001, the museum also displays the Siegfried Unterberger collection, as a permanent loan by the province of South Tyrol. Also, the museum has a crib collection. From time to time, there are also changing special exhibitions.

Popular event location

Moreover, the Hofburg in Brixen is a popular location for events, such as special guided tours, summer evenings and much more. During the Christmas time, there are breath-taking light and music shows in the courtyard of the Hofburg, fascinating countless visitors every year. Also, you can perfectly combine these shows with a visit of the Christmas market in Brixen.