Krippenmuseum in Fulpmes in the Stubai Valley

The art of carving has a long tradition in the Stubai Valley, mainly because numerous forges once produced the necessary high-quality tools here. Since 1909, Fulpmes has been known as 'Crib Village', and since then there has been the 'Crib Friends Fulpmes' association, which also takes care of the museum opened in 2008.

The Crib Museum offers numerous pieces of information and exhibits, providing a highly interesting insight into the history of the Christmas crib, into customs and folk culture, as well as into the various techniques of crib construction.

Today's Christmas cribs date back to early Christianity. One of the oldest depictions of the birth of Christ is found in the late Romanesque castle chapel of Hocheppan near Bolzano; these frescoes were created around 1200. Around the same time, in 1223, Francis of Assisi recreated the Nativity with live animals and people in Greccio. The first crib in the modern sense is considered to be the Christmas scene set up by Jesuits in Prague in 1562. Soon, setting up cribs in (Catholic) churches became a matter of prestige, and subsequently, this custom was also adopted in private households. Until the 19th century, when the Christmas tree became widespread, the crib was the centerpiece of the Catholic family Christmas celebration.

Even today, the crib is an integral part of the Christmas festival. They come in a wide variety of materials and designs. In the Crib Museum Fulpmes, you can admire numerous examples from all over the world, from valuable cribs of old masters and artist cribs to original creations by the Crib Friends to the famous 'Peep-Box Cribs' and the Church Crib Labyrinth. You can even marvel at a walk-in crib in the museum!

Not only are the numerous visitors enthusiastic about the Crib Museum, but also the cultural department of the state of Tyrol is convinced of the quality and has chosen the Tyrolean Crib Museum in Fulpmes as the Museum of the Month October 2010. Another tip: Just three houses down is the Fulpmes Doll and Toy Museum, also a great experience for young and old!