History

Bruneck, 835 m above sea-level, lies in the midst of a wide and ample valley bottom, halfway between the railway junction of Franzensfeste and the state border near Winnebach. The area is surrounded by high mountains: by the Kronplatz ( 2.275 m) to the south, by the Ast-Joch (2.169m) to the west, by the Sambock (2.396m ) to the north and by the impressive Rieserferner massif to the north-east.

In the north the Tauferer valley opens up with its prolongation, the Ahrntal valley, that extends to the glaciers of the Zillertal Alps and the Venediger massif. In the south, at St. Lorenzen which is 3 km west of Bruneck, you can turn off into the Gadertal valley.

Around the year 1250 the Brixen Bishop Count Bruno von Wullenstätten und Kirchberg built a castle on the Bruneck castle hill, thus laying the foundation for the town whose existence was mentioned in documents in 1256. As the only town in the Pustertal valley Bruneck soon became an important trading centre and the pivot of the valley’s economy and subsequently developed into a cultural centre, too. Bruneck became prosperous.

Trade and craft, later on above all handicraft, flourished and undoubtedly brought the population a certain level of wealth and prosperity which could for example be noticed in Bruneck`s tasteful buildings and houses. Nevertheless, Bruneck remained a small and lovely town. In the last decades Bruneck has become increasingly important as a tourist resort, in summer as well as in winter. Bruneck has a population of 14.500 and stretches over an area of 5.000 ha. Together with the surrounding villages Reischach, St. Georgen, Stegen, Aufhofen, Dietenheim, Luns, Amaten and Percha, the town offers its guests as many as 4.000 beds. Moreover, Bruneck hosts the best shopping facilities of the whole Pustertal valley, and the “Stadtgasse“, Bruneck`s main street in the town centre, is one of the most charming shopping streets of the South Tyrol.

Reischach owes its name to the legendary "Rischon" castle and was first mentioned as settlement in 1020. For 400 years the noble people of Rischon had their residence in the Angerburg castle which still exists today.

St. Georgen is undoubtedly one of the oldest settlements in the Pustertal valley. Above the village there are two sand hills, the big and the small "Pipe", where you can still find traces of prehistoric wall castles.

Stegen, a bridge settlement of Roman origin, was first mentioned in documents in the year 1000 in the donation to Bishop Albuin.

Dietenheim, a village boasting a great number of picturesque stately homes and mansions, was first mentioned around the year 1000.

Aufhofen, seat of the administrator of the Brixen Bishop until 1370, offers an interesting parish church as well as smart residences and stately homes.

Percha - the village rises from the riverside meadows of the Rienz across fields, forests and mountain pastures up to the mountains of the Rieserferner Massif with its more than 3,000 metre high peaks.