Diözesanmuseum Hofburg Brixen

About the museum

The Diocesan Museum of Bressanone was founded in 1901 on the initiative of a museum association active since 1897. Its main aims were to prevent the loss and dispersal of sacred art, to provide a worthy home for liturgical objects no longer in use and to serve as a study resource for theologians, priests and artists. The museum first occupied a single room in the Hofburg and in 1907 moved into rooms beside the cloister; the growth of the collections soon made further extensions and reorganisation necessary.

In 1973 the episcopal seat was transferred to Bolzano, and the Hofburg could become the museum’s permanent home, with the building gradually adapted to museum use. Today more than seventy rooms present the cathedral treasury and important works of art from the Middle Ages to the 20th century: Romanesque crucifixes, late Romanesque and early Gothic Madonnas, works linked to Master Leonardo of Bressanone, to the Pacher brothers and to Hans Klocker, stained glass, liturgical objects, textiles and manuscripts, then the Renaissance, the Baroque with a room devoted to Paul Troger, the 19th century and the 20th century.

The cathedral treasury is considered one of the most important in the Alpine region; its main piece is the chasuble of Albuin, in Byzantine purple silk of around 1000, known as the “eagle chasuble” because of the design of the fabric. The collection of nativity scenes includes, among others, the two annual nativity scenes commissioned around 1800 by Prince-Bishop Karl Franz von Lodron, and nativity scenes from Bressanone, Tyrol, Naples and Sicily.

Highlights

• More than 70 rooms with art from the Middle Ages to the 20th century
• Cathedral treasury with the chasuble of Albuin (around 1000)
• Altar of the Kings Magi by Bartlmä Dill-Riemenschneider
• Room devoted to Paul Troger
• Collection of nativity scenes
• Imperial wing (Kaisertrakt) and episcopal wing of the Hofburg

Founded

1901

Visitors per year

approx. 40,000

Admission & discounts

Reductions or free admission with some partner cards.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

Programmes for children: treasure hunt “Sulle tracce dei vescovi” (ages 6–12, €5 per child, by reservation), interactive visit for primary schools (1 hour, €5 per child) and museum quiz (ages 6–14, €4, also available at the ticket office for self-guided use). Prices exclude the admission ticket.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

The site offers the rental of rooms in the Hofburg.

Plan your visit