Brunico
Brunico (Bruneck in German) is the main town of the Val Pusteria (Pustertal), in South Tyrol, set along the banks of the Rienza ri...
Updated 17 July 2026
This season · July · Summer
What to do in Brunico now
The story
The story of Brunico
The heart of Val Pusteria on the Rienza river
Brunico rises where the Val Pusteria widens, along the course of the Rienza river, which crosses the town ideally dividing the historic core from the more modern districts. Surrounded by wooded slopes and peaks that already hint at the Dolomite landscape beyond, the town has always been the economic and social reference point for the whole valley, with markets, services and connections that make it an essential crossing point between Bressanone, Dobbiaco and the side valleys. Strolling along the banks of the Rienza you can feel the calm atmosphere typical of South Tyrolean alpine towns, while looking up reveals the first foothills of the mountains surrounding the Plan de Corones. This strategic position has made Brunico, since the Middle Ages, a crossroads of trade and cultures, a role it still holds today in a contemporary form, between tourism, craftsmanship and small mountain industry.
The Stadtgasse and the historic centre
The heart of Brunico is the Stadtgasse, the pedestrian street that runs through the historic centre with its characteristic arcades and the colourful facades of Tyrolean houses. Walking beneath the arches, shop windows, craft workshops, cafés and inns follow one another in a lively yet never chaotic atmosphere, typical of the villages of Val Pusteria. Along the street and in the side lanes, glimpses of historic architecture survive, with buildings that tell centuries of the town's commercial history, dotted with wrought-iron signs and small internal courtyards. The Stadtgasse is also the ideal starting point for climbing up to Brunico Castle, reached with a short uphill walk from the centre. In the evening, when the lights come on under the arcades, the historic centre offers an intimate and welcoming image, very representative of the lifestyle of Val Pusteria.
Brunico Castle and the Messner Mountain Museum Ripa
Overlooking the historic centre is Brunico Castle (Schloss Bruneck), a medieval fortification standing on a rise above the Stadtgasse, which for centuries represented the bishop's authority over the valley. Today the castle houses the Messner Mountain Museum Ripa, one of the museums conceived by mountaineer Reinhold Messner, dedicated to mountain peoples around the world and their relationship with the alpine environment. Inside its halls, exhibitions on Himalayan, Andean and Caucasian cultures follow one another, putting Val Pusteria in dialogue with the great mountain ranges of the planet. A visit to the castle also offers a privileged panoramic viewpoint over the town and the surrounding mountains, including a view towards the Plan de Corones massif. The Ripa is part of the Messner Mountain Museum network, which includes other locations in South Tyrol, among them one right on the summit of the Kronplatz.
The Plan de Corones (Kronplatz) and skiing
At the foot of Brunico lies the Plan de Corones ski area, also known by its German name Kronplatz, one of South Tyrol's most famous skiing mountains. The summit, easily reached with modern lifts, offers wide and well-exposed slopes suited to both expert skiers and families, and is connected to the entire ski circuit of Val Pusteria and the neighbouring valleys. At the top there are sweeping panoramic points over the Dolomites, as well as a second Messner Mountain Museum dedicated to the world of mountaineering, the Corones, designed with architecture carved into the mountain's rock. In summer the Plan de Corones turns into an area for hikers and mountain bike enthusiasts, with scenic trails and paths overlooking the valleys of the Pusteria. Its proximity to Brunico makes the mountain reachable within a few minutes from the town centre, an advantage that contributes to the area's winter and summer tourist vocation.
The surrounding valleys and gastronomy
Brunico is also the natural starting point for exploring the side valleys of Val Pusteria. To the south lies Val Badia, gateway to the Ladin Dolomites, while to the north stretch the Tures and Aurina valleys, with glacial landscapes and authentic mountain villages. Not far away extends the Fanes-Sennes-Braies Nature Park, one of the most protected and striking natural environments in all of South Tyrol, with plateaus, alpine lakes and trails of great scenic value. This central position makes Brunico an ideal base for organising day trips in different directions, without ever moving too far from the town's services. Completing the experience is the local cuisine, hearty and tied to mountain farming tradition: South Tyrolean speck, canederli, alpine-pasture cheeses and polenta-based dishes naturally accompany days spent skiing, hiking and visiting cultural sites.
Not to be missed
- Walk along the Stadtgasse, the pedestrian street with colourful arcades in the historic centre
- Visit Brunico Castle (Schloss Bruneck) and the Messner Mountain Museum Ripa
- Ride up to the Plan de Corones (Kronplatz) and visit the Messner Mountain Museum Corones at the summit
- Hike towards the Fanes-Sennes-Braies Nature Park
- Taste South Tyrolean speck and canederli at a traditional inn in the valley
To see
What to see in Brunico
Routes · Trovido Route
Routes in Brunico
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