To the delight of all medieval fans, Bruck Castle looks almost exactly the same today as it did half a millennium ago. Back then, the last count of Gorizia who resided here died and Emperor Maximilian I inherited the castle. As he lived elsewhere, he - just like the later owners - did not think to remodel the castle to the taste of his time.
Fifteen different species of bat live in the hidden corners of the castle and in the forest surrounding the walls - that's around half of all known species in Austria. A themed trail in the castle park tells the story of these legendary animals. There are also interesting facts about the former life at Bruck Castle on the pleasure walk.
See the world of noble knights and damsels with your own eyes: On family Sundays, the Museum of the City of Lienz offers a creative mix of games, handicrafts, exciting legends and voyages of discovery into the Middle Ages. Children's birthday parties are also possible on request.
The castle keep is the highest point. The tower is one of the oldest parts of the castle, is seven storeys high and has a floor plan of 12 by 12 metres. The view on all sides was once necessary to spot approaching enemies in good time. Today, it is simply a pleasure to look out over East Tyrol from high above.
Bruck Castle has one of the largest collections of the artist Albin Egger-Lienz. It also lends paintings for special exhibitions and receives loans from international museums for its own exhibitions. This means that world-class works of art can be seen here on a small scale. Because there are more objects in the collection than can be shown, the exhibitions are different every year.
At the end of the 15th century, Simon von Taisten repainted the two-storey chapel. Thanks to the ultra-modern technique used at the time - painting directly onto the damp plaster - the frescoes are particularly durable. The saints and biblical scenes that the craftsmen painted on the walls of the chapel still shine in the brightest colours.
The frescoes were barely dry before the first person scratched graffiti into the picture. Over the centuries, new scribbles were added, such as the Latin "Hic fuit" ("I was here"), Greek inscriptions by high school students in the 19th century or "Ray + Lilly" from the English occupation. The most recent message dates from the year 2000, and no new ones are to be added in order to protect the murals.
As a branch of the Lienz registry office, the castle chapel at Bruck Castle offers an extraordinary ambience and is therefore a popular wedding location in East Tyrol. If you say "I do" with a view of the 14 holy helpers at the front of the chapel, then nothing can go wrong with your marriage.
When museum director Stefan Weis raves about the castle courtyard as the "most beautiful concert stage in the town of Lienz", you simply have to agree with him. In summer, big names from the Austrian pop and rock scene perform here and brass band concerts are also regularly held in the castle park.
To recharge your batteries after a tour of the castle or simply to enjoy yourself, the castle café offers a relaxed setting with one of the most panoramic terraces in the city. The museum brunch on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays is particularly popular with locals (advance booking required).
