Brixen

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Gemeinde Brixen Comune di Bressanone
Municipal coat of arms
Country	Italy
Region	Trentino-South Tyrol
Province	South Tyrol (BZ)
Mayor	Albert Pürgstaller

Elevation	560 m
Area	84.86 km²
Population
- Total (as of December 31, 2005)	19,163
- Density	215/km²
Time zone	CET, UTC+1
Coordinates	46°43′N 11°39′E
Gentilic	Brissinesi
Dialing code	0472
Postal code	39042
Frazioni	see list
Patron	St. Ingenuino and St. Albuino
- Day	February 2
Website: www.brixen.it

Brixen (German) or Bressanone (Italian) is a town in the autonomous province of South Tyrol (part of the autonomous region Trentino-South Tyrol) in northern Italy.

Panorama of Brixen.

The third city of South-Tyrol, Brixen is an old (founded 901) town, the artistical and cultural capital of the Valley of Eisack river. It is located at the confluence of the Eisack and Rienz rivers, 40 km north of Bolzano and 45 km south of the Brenner Pass, on the Italy-Austrian border. It is surrounded at east by Plose and Monte Telegrafo/Plosegipfel (2,504 m), at west by Cima Cane/Hundkopf and Monte Pascolo/Königsangerspitze (2,439 m).

As throughout the region, the majority of the population speaks German. The remaining of the inhabitants is Italian and Ladin speaking, with percentages of 27% and 1%, respectively.

Brixen is especially known as a major skiing resort. Other activities include hydroelectric power, wool, orchards and vineyards.

Brixen should not be confused with Brixen im Thale of Austrian Tyrol.

1 History
2 Main sights
3 Transportation
4 Frazioni
5 Twin cities
6 External links

[edit] History

Main article: Bishopric of Brixen

The area of Brixen was settled since the Middle Stone Age (8th millennium BC). Other settlements from the late Stone Age have been found, until, in 15 BC, the area was conquered by the Romans, who had their main settlement in the nearby Sabiona (Säben). They held it until around 590s, when it was occupied by Bavarians.

The first mention of Brixen dates to 901 in a document issued by the King of Germany Louis III the Child: in it, a territory called Maso Prihsna is assigned to the bishop of Sabiona, Zacharia. As time passed, "Prihsna" turned into the current name of Brixen. The bishops moved here from Sabiona in 992, after the Cathedral had been finished.

In 1039 the bishop of Brixen, Pappo, was elevated to Pope by emperor Henry III. However, his reign lasted only for 23 days.

In the 11th century, Brixen became the seat of an ecclesiastical principate which, in the following years, struggled for existence against the neighbouring county of Tyrol.

In 1115 a first line of walls encircling Brixen was completed.

The bishopric was secularized in 1803, annexed to the Austrian Empire.

After the end of the First World War Brixen, together with the whole South Tyrol, was annexed to Italy.

Cathedral of Brixen.

[edit] Main sights

The Cathedral (10th century), was rebuilt in the 13th century and again in 1745-1754 along Baroque lines. The ceiling of the nave has a large fresco by Paul Troger portraying the Adoration of the Lamb.
The Renaissance Bishop's Palace (13th century), one of the main noble residences in South Tyrol. The Diocesan Museum has several artworks, including a presepe with 5,000 figures created for Bishop Karl Franz Lodron.
The round Parish church of San Michele (11th century). The Gothic choir and the bell tower are from the 15th century, while the nave is from the 16th. The main artwork is a wooden Cireneus from the 15th century.

Outside the city is the Rodengo Castle, one of the most powerful of its time. It has precious frescoes from the early 13th century. Also important are Tasso Castle and the Castel Forte at Ponte Gardena. In the latter lived the famous adventurer and minstrel Oswald von Wolkenstein.

[edit] Transportation

Brixen is provided with an efficient railway station on the Brenner Line leading from Verona to Tyrol. There are two gates for the Brenner Highway, following the same path.

[edit] Frazioni

Wikisource has an original article from the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica about:

Brixen

Albeins, Karneid, Klerant, Korneid, Elvas, Afers, Mahr, Mellaun, Pairdorf, Pinzagen, St.Andrä, Tschötsch, St.Leonhard, Tötschling, Tils, Kranebitt, Schrambach, Sarns.