December 8, 2026
Immaculate Conception
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Bressanone (Italian: Bressanone, German: Brixen) is the oldest city in historical Tyrol and was for centuries the seat of its prince-bishops. The old town centres on the Domplatz, with its cathedral, a cloister covered in medieval frescoes, and the Church of St Michael with its White Tower; from there, the medieval arcaded walkways of the Lauben lead through what was once a thriving merchant town. The Hofburg, the bishop's palace, now houses the Diocesan Museum with its celebrated collection of nativity scenes. The Isarco valley surrounding the city is known for white wines and chestnuts, and the Neustift Abbey on the northern edge of town has been cultivating vineyards since its foundation in the 12th century. Above the city rises Mount Plose, and from Bressanone buses run to the Villnöss valley and Val Gardena, while trains connect the city to Bolzano and the Pustertal.
December 8, 2026
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Bigger crowds are possible around the event.
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December 25, 2026
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December 26, 2026
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January 1, 2027
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January 6, 2027
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April 25, 2027
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May 1, 2027
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June 2, 2027
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Traffic and access changes are possible around the event.
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August 15, 2027
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Everything you need for Brixen in one place
The Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and Saint Cassian stands on Domplatz, in the heart of a city that for centuries served as the seat of prince-bishops. It acquired its present appearance in the 18th century, when it was remodelled in the Baroque style, and its two façade bell towers are visible from across the entire valley. The interior is bright and lavish, with marble altars and a large fresco on the vault, the work of Tyrolean painter Paul Troger. The cathedral is the natural starting point for exploring the old town.
Tucked alongside the cathedral lies a cloister whose vaults and walls are covered in frescoes from the 14th and 15th centuries. The scenes from the Old and New Testaments were painted across successive generations, and walking along one of the corridors you can see how the style shifted from late Gothic towards the Renaissance. The cloister is peaceful and unassuming, yet many consider it the greatest artistic treasure of Bressanone. It rewards a slow visit — worth pausing beneath every vault.
Hofburg was the palace of the prince-bishops of Bressanone: a medieval city transformed into a Renaissance and Baroque palace, with a spacious courtyard surrounded by Renaissance loggias. Today it houses the Diocesan Museum, with art ranging from the Middle Ages to more recent times, the cathedral treasury, and the imperial apartments. The museum is particularly well known for its nativity scene collection, which includes the large nativity scenes by the Probst brothers featuring thousands of figures, making it an engaging destination for children as well.
The Villnöss Valley leads to one of the most iconic views in the Dolomites: the little church of Santa Maddalena and the Ranui chapel, set against the jagged ridgeline of the Odle…
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The Isarco Valley around Bressanone is the northernmost wine-growing area in South Tyrol, renowned for its fresh white wines: Sylvaner, Kerner, Müller-Thurgau, and Veltliner. The vineyards climb steep slopes, and the cold nights give the wines a crisp acidity and distinct minerality. The easiest places to taste them are the Neustift Monastery, which has been producing wine since its founding, and the family-run wineries dotted around the town.
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