Brixen: Cathedral, Old Town and Paths along the Isarco

Cathedral and medieval old town

Brixen Cathedral dominates the historic center. Its history dates back to 980 AD. The historic center of Brixen is an extensive medieval center and is protected as a historic monument. For a tour of Brixen, these destinations can be connected within the historic urban area and visited one after another over the course of the day. In Brixen, this proximity makes it easier to find your way between sights, shops and restaurants.

Museums and architectural history

The Bishop's Palace (Hofburg) was built in the 13th century by the prince-bishops of Brixen. The Bishop's Palace (Hofburg) houses the Diocesan Museum and the Diocesan Archive. The Diocesan Museum presents Brixen Cathedral's treasury as well as valuable works of art from the Middle Ages to the 20th century in more than 70 exhibition rooms. The Brixen Pharmacy Museum uses the example of a Brixen pharmacist family to illustrate 400 years of pharmaceutical history.

The cloister in Brixen is a Romanesque building with 14th-century vaults and features frescoes from the 14th and 15th centuries that illustrate the development of medieval art. Stufels in Brixen was already inhabited in the Neolithic period and is known as an artists' quarter. The Brixen City Gallery is located in the heart of the old town and forms an architectural link between the arcades and Cathedral Square.

Confluence of the Isarco and Rienz

At the southern end of the Rapp Gardens, the Isarco and Rienz meet. During the annual Water Light Festival in May, there is an installation at the confluence of the Isarco and Rienz. Brixen has 48 fountains, which together form an open-air museum of water. Visitors can refill their bottles at suitable public drinking-water fountains in Brixen; these fountains are marked with the notice "Drinking water".

Strolls, hikes and bike tours

Short walks and short hikes begin directly in Brixen, including paths along the Isarco. In the area around Brixen, the Plose hiking area offers the WoodyWalk and Lorggen trails as well as opportunities for mountain biking, mountain-cart rides and rides on the Plosebob. The Urban Life Ride tour explores Brixen by e-bike and combines architectural heritage, urban development and people's everyday lives. For day planning, paths directly in Brixen are geographically distinct from the activities in the surrounding area.

Local cuisine and Törggelen

Brixen has inns serving traditional local cuisine. Törggelen in Brixen combines hikes through the autumn landscape with visits to traditional Buschenschänke as well as seasonal food and drinks.

Arrival and orientation

Brixen railway station is within walking distance of the historic old town; alternatively, city buses connect the station with the center and the surrounding villages. Arriving by train and city bus can therefore be arranged around the center of Brixen or its surrounding villages.

Other destinations in the Isarco Valley

Other destinations in the Isarco Valley: Natz-Schabs, Rodeneck, Villanders, Klausen, Lajen, Barbian, Villnöß, Lüsen.

To the higher-level travel overview: Isarco Valley.