Mountain Museum Ripa at Bruneck Castle

"Ripa" is the Tibetan word for "mountain person", and accordingly, the new museum landscape revolves around the theme of "mountain peoples". For more than 10,000 years, humans have roamed and settled the mountain regions of the world, first as hunters and gatherers, later as shepherds and farmers. Other economic sectors, such as mining, handicrafts, and finally tourism, also become significant. Everywhere, people in these regions develop special forms of life and community adapted to the particular conditions, their own "mountain culture". As different as these may be, they all share a worldwide commonality that they are based on personal responsibility and neighborly assistance – quite in contrast to urban culture. Also, the widespread renunciation of consumption is typical for many mountain cultures.

At Bruneck Castle, mountain peoples from Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America are introduced, peoples with resonant names like Sherpa, Tibetans, Hunza, or Mongols.

Through films, numerous exhibits of everyday culture, and reconstructions of habitats, the life of these people becomes tangible. Also, the encounter with guests from the various mountain regions should be possible here – in the spirit of an interactive exchange of experiences.

The atmospheric setting for this new museum is provided by Bruneck Castle. The castle, visible from afar above the town of Bruneck, was built around 1250, later expanded significantly, and served the Prince-Bishops of Brixen repeatedly as a residence. In the 20th century, the castle was repurposed as a school building and most recently also used as an exhibition and concert space.

MMM Ripa will be open daily from 10:00 to 18:00. The museum is closed on Tuesdays. For the five stations of MMM – besides Ripa also Firmian at Sigmundskron Castle, Ortles in Sulden at Ortler, Dolomites at Monte Rite in the heart of the Dolomites, and Juval in Vinschgau – there will now also be a common MMM Tour Ticket, a collective ticket that is valid for one year and thus can be the occasion for a small South Tyrol discovery tour.