Heinfels Castle 2023: A year full of cultural highlights and discoveries

This year was characterized by a lively museum, concerts, exhibitions and exciting activities at Heinfels Castle. The castle remains an important cultural hotspot in East Tyrol and beyond.

The start of an exciting museum year began with the East Tyrolean Museum Days in May. An exciting puzzle rally led young and old through Heinfels Castle. In the museum store, Gertrud Mair presented a game she had developed. An Interreg project highlighted the forgotten connections, the historical relationships between Cadore and Alta Pusteria. In June, this year's special exhibition of the Tyrolean Photo Archive TAP was opened at Heinfels Castle. It shows East Tyrol's path to modernity in the period from 1870/71 to 1970.


The special TAP exhibition 2023 in the castle tavern showed East Tyrol's path to modernity from 1870/71 - 1970.

Varied program as part of the "Heinfelser Burgsommer"

The "Heinfelser Burgsommer" once again offered a wealth of events this year, from concerts and readings to a spectacular sports competition. The "International Choir Festival" took place in June, with seven choirs from Switzerland and Italy performing in front of the impressive castle backdrop. The brilliant concert by Katrin & Werner Unterlercher, known from the Herbert Pixner Project, thrilled the audience and transported them into the multifaceted world of "string music of an extraordinary kind". In July, author Christian Schnalke presented his new novel "Gewitterschwestern", which is inspired by personal experiences in the mountains.

But modern music also has its place within the old walls: The "Runway Quartet" from Innsbruck played Broadway hits and pop songs in their own arrangements. In August, the "Heinfelser Turmlauf" provided a sporting challenge on the demanding route from the Punbrugge to the keep. The "Passacaglia della Vita" concert with works by Claudio Monteverdi and other Renaissance and Baroque composers delighted the audience in summer and underlined the uniqueness of the castle as a venue.


As one of the many venues in the Pustertal Valley, the castle provided an impressive setting for the "International Choir Festival".


Katrin and Werner Unterlercher delighted the audience at the "Heinfels Castle Summer".


The "Heinfelser Turmlauf" with start at the Punbrugge and finish on the keep was once again a spectacular sporting event this year.

The concerts by "Waldauf³" and "Cordes y Butons" brought the "Heinfelser Burgsommer" 2023 to a more than worthy close. Outside the historic walls, the castle parking lot provided a festival site for the up-and-coming young musician Chris Steger with support act ElisaLeen for the first time. This concert alone attracted 800 guests from near and far to Heinfels at the beginning of September.

"Cultural Dialogues" 2023: The return of Fortuna

A sensational find from 2021 returned to the castle as part of the "Cultural Dialogues" in September: the "Fortuna of Heinfels", a bronze statuette measuring just 12.5 cm, was presented to the public for the first time as part of a lecture. It will find a permanent place in the castle's permanent exhibition in the near future.


The "Fortuna of Heinfels" was presented to the public for the first time in September.

There were also lots of exciting activities for children. First and foremost the children's birthday parties, but also numerous special guided tours and, for the first time, a herbal workshop in September, which immersed the youngest visitors in the magical world of castle herbs.

"Kulturgestöber&Kulinarik", an event of the "Osttiroler Kulturspur", focused on regional cultural treasures in October. Heinfels Castle was once again an important event venue - with guided tours of this year's special exhibition and the castle grounds.

A total of 35 events took place - including 12 weddings - attracting a total of 2,300 visitors. In addition, the museum welcomed an impressive 12,000 guests in 2023.

Preparations for 2024 have been underway since the autumn and visitors can once again look forward to a varied program and new museum content. Construction work on the restaurant in the west wing is scheduled to begin in the summer and the wing is expected to open in 2026 with around 180 seats in the restaurant.

Go back

BLOG

Archiv

Heinfels Castle once again offered a colourful programme of events in 2024, combining culture, history and sport in a unique way. From the 'Osttiroler Museumstage' in May to the musical and sporty castle summer and exciting autumn events, the castle attracted numerous visitors.

The year of events at Heinfels Castle has already begun unofficially with the impressive laser show ‘The castle awakens’. On 2 May, the castle opens its doors again as planned.

We start the new museum season with motivation on May 2, 2024. In winter, we will continue to open the castle to groups of 10 people or more by prior arrangement, but we are also happy to open it to fewer people at a fixed price.

This year was characterized by a lively museum, concerts, exhibitions and exciting activities at Heinfels Castle. The castle remains an important cultural hotspot in East Tyrol and beyond.

"The Runway Quartet" brought Broadway to Tyrol on July 8: Dragan Trajkovski, Robert Gmachl-Pammer, Craig Hansford and Florian Bramböck provided enthusiasm and many encores in front of a sold-out venue.

On May 4, Heinfels Castle starts again into a new museum and event season. A colorful and varied program should attract many visitors. For the first time, a special exhibition will be shown in the rooms of the future castle tavern together with the Tyrolean Photo Archive (TAP).

The kestrels at Heinfels Castle have had their nesting place for many years in a niche in the wall of the kitchen tower built in the 14th century. Every year four to five young falcons hatch and start their first flight attempts. For the first time, the falcons can be observed live via a newly installed "falcon cam."

We are officially on winter break since November 6 and will start motivated on May 4, 2023 in the new museum season. In winter we continue to open the castle for groups of 10 people or more by appointment!

After last year's launch, the "Heinfelser Burgweihnacht" (Christmas at Heinfels Castle) will take place for the second time in a historical setting: The local associations invite you to Heinfels Castle on 17 and 18 December for an enjoyable day of festivities.

We are pleased with architect Gerhard Mitterberger about the "Award of the Province of Tyrol for New Building 2022", which was awarded on November 10 in Innsbruck.

Little concerts by outstanding ensembles in a historical setting - this is the motto of the performances during the Heinfels Castle Summer 2022. The inner courtyard and the "Langer Saal" serve as venues for a special musical treat in the largest castle complex in the Puster Valley.

Every Thursday evening is the "Long Night" at Heinfels Castle. A special experience for all who want to enjoy the medieval castle at a late hour.