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{{About|Brixen - Bressanone, Italy|the Austrian town of a similar name|Brixen im Thale}}
{{Infobox Italian comune
| name                = Brixen<br>Bressanone
| official_name       = Gemeinde Brixen<br>Comune di Bressanone
| native_name         = {{native name|de|Brixen}}<br>{{lang|lld|Porsenù}}/{{native name|lld|Persenon}}
| image_skyline       = Brixen Dom Mariä Himmelfahrt (BD 14187 3 05-2015).jpg
| imagesize           = 200px
| image_alt           =
| image_caption       =
| image_shield        = Coat of arms of Brixen.svg
| image_flag          = Bandiera di Bressanone.png
| shield_alt          =
| image_map           =
| map_alt             =
| map_caption         =
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt     =
| coordinates         = {{coord|46|43|N|11|39|E|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes =
| region              = [[Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol]]
| province            = [[South Tyrol]] (BZ)
| frazioni            = see [[#Frazioni|list]]
| mayor_party         = [[South Tyrolean People's Party|SVP]]
| mayor               = Andreas Jungmann
| area_footnotes      =
| area_total_km2      = 84.86
| population_footnotes =
| population_total    = 22770
| population_as_of    = 31 December 2020
| pop_density_footnotes =
| population_demonyms = German: Brixner<br>Italian: Brissinesi
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m         = 560
| twin1               =
| twin1_country       =
| istat               = 021
| saint               = Saint Albuin<br>Saint Ingenuin
| day                 = February 2
| postal_code         = 39042
| area_code           = 0472
| website             = {{official website|http://www.brixen.it}}
| footnotes           =
}}
'''Brixen''' ({{IPA|de|ˈbrɪksn̩|-|De-Brixen.ogg}}; {{langx|it|Bressanone}}, {{IPA|it|bressaˈnoːne|}}; {{langx|lld|Porsenù}} or {{lang|lld|Persenon}}, {{IPA-lld|pəʀsəˈnɔŋ|pron}}) is a town and [[communes of Italy|commune]] in [[South Tyrol]], northern [[Italy]], located about {{convert|40|km|mi}} north of [[Bolzano]].
==Geography==
Brixen is the third-largest city and oldest town in the province, with a population of nearly twenty-three thousand.<ref name="Statistisches Jahrbuch für Südtirol 2021">{{cite journal |date=February 2022 |title=Statistisches Jahrbuch für Südtirol 2021 |url=https://astat.provinz.bz.it/downloads/JB2021(4).pdf |journal=Landesinstitut für Statistik - ASTAT |volume=37 |pages=94, 120 |access-date=2023-01-09 |archive-date=2022-06-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220627174333/https://astat.provinz.bz.it/downloads/JB2021(4).pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> It is located at the confluence of the [[Eisack]] and [[Rienz]] rivers, and today it is the capital of the Eisack district community.
The [[Brenner Pass]], on the Italian-[[Austria]]n border, is 45&nbsp;km to the north of Brixen, and [[Bolzano]] lies 40&nbsp;km to the south. To the east lies the [[Plose]] mountain [[massif]] with three peaks, the closest of which being the Telegraph peak (Monte Telegrafo) (2,486 m), formally known as Fröllspitze. On the western side, there is the [[Königsangerspitze]] mountain (Monte Pascolo) (2,439 m) and the [[Pfeffersberg]] slope (Monteponente), both of which are located within the [[Sarntal Alps]].
Brixen is especially known for its skiing, with a major [[skiing|ski]] resort, [https://www.plose.org/en/winter/plose-live.html the Plose].
===''Frazioni''===
Brixen is made up of about 22 smaller villages and hamlets called ''[[Frazione|frazioni]]''. They include: Afers/Eores, Albeins/Albes, Elvas, Gereuth/Caredo, Karnol/Cornale, Klerant/Cleran, Kranebitt/Costa d'Elvas, Mahr/Elvas La Mara, Mairdorf/Villa, Mellaun/Meluno, Milland/Millan, Pairdorf/Perara, Pinzagen/Pinzago, Plabach/Rivapiana, Rutzenberg/Monte Ruzzo, Sarns/Sarnes, St. Andrä/Sant'Andrea, St. Leonhard/San Leonardo, Tils/Tiles, Tötschling/Tecelinga, Tschötsch/Scezze, and Untereben.
==History==
The area of Brixen has been settled since the [[Upper Paleolithic]] ([[8th millennium BC]]). Other settlements from the late Stone Age have been found and in 15 BC, the area was conquered by the [[Ancient Rome|Romans]], who had their main settlement in the nearby [[Säben Abbey|Säben]] (Sabiona). They held it until around 590, when it was occupied by [[Bavaria]]ns.
[[File:Kloster Säben 1.jpg|left|thumb|[[Säben Abbey]]]]
The first mention of Brixen dates to 901 in a document issued by the King of Germany, [[Louis III the Child]], in which the farm of ''Prihsna'' was presented to Bishop Zacharias of [[bishop of Säben|Säben]]. As time passed, 'Prihsna' turned into the current name of Brixen. The bishops moved here from Säben in 992, after the cathedral had been finished.
In 1048, the [[Bishop of Brixen]], [[Pope Damasus II|Poppo]], was made pontiff as Pope Damasus II by emperor [[Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor|Henry III]]. His reign was especially short, lasting only 23 days before dying. Rumours circulated that Poppo had been poisoned by Gerhard Brazutus, an ally to both [[Pope Benedict IX]], whom Poppo had just dethroned, and to be [[Pope Gregory VII]]. These claims have not proven to be substantial and a modern conjecture suggests he died of malaria.
On 15 June 1080, at the request of Henry III, the [[synod of Brixen]] condemned Pope Gregory VII over the [[Investiture Controversy]], a conflict during the 11th and 12th centuries over the ability to appoint bishops.
In 1115, a first line of walls encircling Brixen was completed. In 1174, and later again in 1234 and 1445, Brixen was devastated by fires.
During the [[German mediatisation]] in 1802, Brixen was awarded to the [[Austrian Empire]], only to be [[Peace of Pressburg (1805)|ceded to the Bavarians]] in 1805 after the Austrians suffered a great loss to [[Napoleon]] and his Allies at the [[Battle of Austerlitz]]. The Bavarians set up the [[District Court of Brixen]], a regional judicial and administrative court for South Tyrol. The court only lasted nine years before in 1814, the [[Congress of Vienna]] returned Brixen to the Austrians.
Some time between 1851 and 1855, the [[Czechs|Czech]] journalist and writer [[Karel Havlíček Borovský]] was exiled to Brixen by the Austrian government.
In 1866, after the [[Austro-Prussian War]], the Austrians were on the verge of collapse. In 1867 the [[Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867|Austro-Hungarian Compromise]] was arranged. This established a dual monarchy comprising Austria and the Kingdom of Hungary, which were respectively known unofficially as Cisleithania and Transleithania. South Tyrol, including Brixen, was part of Cisleithania.
In 1915, the [[Treaty of London (1915)|Treaty of London]] was concluded. Its objective was, in part, to entice Italy to join the [[Triple Entente]]. One provision, Article 4, promised the Italians the largely German-speaking Austrian territory of [[South Tyrol]], which would create a new Italian-Austrian frontier. In 1919, after the victories of the allies, Brixen, along with the rest of South Tyrol, was awarded to Italy by the [[Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye (1919)|Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye]].
Under Mussolini, Brixen and the surrounding villages experienced an enormous growth, as part of the fascist effort to consolidate territorial subdivisions in the country. In 1928, this included the addition of Milland, Sarns, and Albeins, as well as Elvas and Kranebitt which were annexed from [[Natz-Schabs|Natz]], a neighbouring municipality.
During WW2, the Austrians attempted to reclaim South Tyrol but were unsuccessful.
After the war, Austria deemed the post-war treaty to be unsatisfactory, raising [[South Tyrol#Südtirolfrage|The South Tyrolean Question]] (''Die Südtirolfrage''). The Austrians believed, along with the South Tyroleans, that the region should be autonomous to protect minorities. South Tyrol has 69.4% native German-speaking population, and a 4.5% native [[Ladin language|Ladin]]-speaking population, with the two languages making up a majority in 111 out of the 116 municipalities in South Tyrol.
In 1972, South Tyrol, as a part of [[Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol]], was granted autonomy.
==Coat-of-arms==
The oldest coat of arms dates back to 1297 with the lamb, known then from 1304 as a symbol of the lamb. On 13 November 1928, a shield with the city walls and a gate on the lawn in the upper half and the lamb in the lower was adopted. The emblem is a turned [[argent]] lamb with an [[Or (heraldry)|or]] halo on a [[gules]] background; the right foreleg supports a flag with a gules cross. The emblem was granted in 1966.<ref>[http://www.ngw.nl/int/ita/b/brixen.htm Heraldry of the World: Brixen-Bressanone]</ref>
==Main sights==
* The [[Cathedral of Brixen|Cathedral]] (10th century), dedicated to the Assumption of Mary, was rebuilt in the 13th century and again in 1745&ndash;54 along [[Baroque]] lines. The ceiling of the nave has a large fresco by [[Paul Troger]] portraying the ''Adoration of the Lamb''.
* The ''Hofburg'', a Renaissance Bishop's Palace (started in the 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 ''Saint Michael'' (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.
* The Pharmacy Museum ([[Pharmaziemuseum Brixen]]), located in a nearly 500-year-old townhouse, shows the development and changes of the local pharmacy. The Peer family (now the 7th generation) has run this pharmacy since 1787, always in the same location. The museum's carefully restored rooms illustrate the development of the pharmaceutical profession over the centuries and the changes in remedies used, from the testicles of a beaver and pieces of an ancient Egyptian mummy to modern plasters and lyophilisates. All the objects and medicines on display were in use over the centuries. The museum also has a library for historical research and the archive of the Peer family. In a separate room there is a multimedia display of the history of the family.
*The [[White Tower (Brixen)|White Tower]] (also known as "Weißer Turm") was completed in 1591, but subsequently modified. The 72-meter-tall tower, which is located next to the parish church of Saint Michael, is inside the city walls in the historic center of Brixen.<ref>{{Cite web|title=St.-Michaelstor / Weißer Turm - Brixen, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy - Signs of History on Waymarking.com|url=https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMZ0WP_St_Michaelstor_Weier_Turm_Brixen_Trentino_Alto_Adige_Italy|access-date=2020-11-17|website=waymarking.com}}</ref> It contains a complex [[carillon]] mechanism of 43 bells, which ring every day at 11:00&nbsp;a.m. and can play more than a hundred different tunes.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Glockenspiel Weißer Turm - Brixen, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy - Carillon on Waymarking.com|url=https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMYXTJ_Glockenspiel_Weier_Turm_Brixen_Trentino_Alto_Adige_Italy|access-date=2020-11-17|website=waymarking.com}}</ref> On the top floor there is a large roof where it is possible to observe the circumstances. The Tower also has a [[Astronomical clock|lunar clock]]. The architecture of the tower belongs to the [[Gothic architecture|Gothic Architecture]] and is one of the few remaining in South Tyrol. It is the cultural heritage monument with the number 14186 in South Tyrol. The White Tower is used as a museum since 2007.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Brixner 179 - Dezember 2004|url=https://issuu.com/brixmedia/docs/brixner_179_-_2004_dezember|access-date=2020-11-17|website=Issuu|date=18 December 2004 |language=en}}</ref>
Outside the city is [[Rodeneck Castle]], one of the most powerful of its time. It has precious [[fresco]]es from the early 13th century. Also important are ''[[Reifenstein Castle]]'' and ''[[Trostburg]]'' Castle in [[Waidbruck]]. In the latter lived the adventurer and [[minstrel]] [[Oswald von Wolkenstein]].
===Gallery===
<gallery>
File:Brixen Dom Mariä Himmelfahrt (BD 14187 1 05-2015).jpg|Cathedral of Brixen (outside)
File:Brixner Dom Innenraum 1.JPG|Cathedral of Brixen (inside)
File:Fürstbischoefliche Hofburg in Brixen.jpg|Hofburg Brixen
</gallery>
==Society==
[[File:BrixnerDom.jpg|thumb|Cathedral of Brixen]]
===Linguistic distribution===
According to the 2011 census, the majority of the population speaks [[German language|German]] as first language (72.82%). The remainder of the inhabitants speak [[Italian language|Italian]] and [[Ladin language|Ladin]] as first languages, with percentages of 25.84% and 1.34%, respectively.<ref name="Statistisches Jahrbuch für Südtirol 2021"/><ref>{{Cite journal |date=1994 |title=Südtirol in Zahlen |url=https://astat.provinz.bz.it/downloads/Siz_1994-dt.pdf |journal=Landesinstitut für Statistik - ASTAT |pages=15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |date=March 1983 |title=Die amtliche Bürgerzahl und die Sprachgruppen in Südtirol nach Gemeinde und Bezirk - Volkszählung 1981 |url=https://astat.provinz.bz.it/de/aktuelles-publikationen-info.asp?news_action=4&news_article_id=573570 |journal=Landesamt für Statistik und Studien |pages=23}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Year
!German
!Italian
!Ladin
|-
|1971
|64.86%
|34.32%
|0.82%
|-
|1981
|70.32%
|28.40%
|1.29%
|-
|1991
|71.68%
|27.03%
|1.29%
|-
|2001
|73.13%
|25.65%
|1.23%
|-
|2011
|72.82%
|25.84%
|1.34%
|}
==Culture==
[[File:St.-Jacob-Church.jpg|thumb|St Jacob Church]]
The rock band, [[Frei.Wild]], has its origin in Brixen.
== Notable people ==
* [[Maria Hueber]] (1653–1705) – religious sister, pioneer in educating girls in Tyrol
* [[Matteo Goffriller]] (1659–1742) – Venetian [[luthier]], particularly noted for the quality of his cellos
* [[Anton Pichler]] (1697–1779) – Tyrolean goldsmith and artist of engraved gems
* [[Joseph Ambrose Stapf]] (1785–1844) – professor of [[moral theology]] and [[pedagogy]] at Brixen seminary
* [[Jakob Philipp Fallmerayer]] (1790–1861) – traveller, journalist, politician and historian<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Fallmerayer, Jakob Philipp |volume= 10 | pages = 154&ndash;155 |short= 1}}</ref>
* [[Johanna von Isser Großrubatscher]] (1802–1880) – graphic artist and writer
* [[Josef Murr]] (1864–1932) – classical philologist and botanist
* [[Eduard Thöny]] (1866–1950) – caricaturist and illustrator
* [[Fritz Tarbuk von Sensenhorst]] (1896–1976) – lieutenant in the Austro-Hungarian Navy, captain in the army and an entrepreneur
* [[Mary de Rachewiltz]] (born 1925) – poet and translator
* [[Reinhold Messner]] (born 1944) – mountaineer, adventurer, explorer, author and politician
* [[Heinz Winkler (chef)|Heinz Winkler]] (born 1949) – three-[[Michelin star]] chef
* [[Herbert Dorfmann]] (born 1969) – agronomist and [[Member of the European Parliament]]
=== Sport ===
* [[Denise Karbon]] (born 1980) – World Cup alpine ski racer
* [[Roland Fischnaller (snowboarder)|Roland Fischnaller]] (born 1980) – snowboarder at the [[2002 Winter Olympics|2002]], [[2006 Winter Olympics|2006]], [[2010 Winter Olympics|2010]], [[2014 Winter Olympics|2014]], [[2018 Winter Olympics|2018]] and [[2022 Winter Olympics]]
* [[Karin Oberhofer]] (born 1985) – biathlete, bronze medallist in the Mixed relay at the [[2014 Winter Olympics]]
* [[Ludwig Rieder]] (born 1991) – luger, competitor at the [[2014 Winter Olympics]]
* [[Dominik Fischnaller]] (born 1993) – luger, bronze medallist at the [[2022 Winter Olympics]]
* [[Kevin Fischnaller]] (born 1993) – luger, competitor at the [[2018 Winter Olympics]]
* [[Andrea Isufaj]] (born 1999) – footballer
==Transport==
[[File:Brixen, Bahnhof 01.JPG|thumb|right|200px|Brixen railway station]]Brixen has a railway station on the [[Brenner railway|Brenner Railway]], which connects the town to [[Verona]] and [[Innsbruck]]. It has an individual fare structure for public transport within the Tirol-Südtirol zone.
'''Italy'''
*Regional Train ([[Trenitalia]] Regional): Brennero/Brenner – Fortezza/Franzensfeste – Bressanone/Brixen – Chiusa/Klausen – Bolzano/Bozen – Trento – Rovereto – Verona – Isola della Scala – Nogara – Bologna
'''Germany/Austria/South Tyrol'''
(D for Germany, A for Austria)
On 11 December 2016, ÖBB took over Deutsche Bahn's night trains. The Munich-Milan service was withdrawn.
*Night Train ([[Deutsche Bahn|DB]] [[CityNightLine]]) '''Munich-Milan/Rome''': Munich (D) – Kufstein (A) – Jenbach (A) – Innsbruck (A) – Brixen/Bressanone – Bolzano/Bozen – Trento/Trient – Verona – Peschiera del Garda – Brescia – Milan
*Intercity Train ([[Austrian Federal Railways|ÖBB]] Eurocity) '''Munich-Verona/Venice''': Munich (D) – Kufstein (A) – Jenbach (A) – Innsbruck (A) – Brenner/Brennero – Franzensfeste/Fortezza – Brixen/Bressanone – Bolzano/Bozen – Trento – Rovereto – Verona – Padua – Venice
*Intercity Train ([[Austrian Federal Railways|ÖBB]] Eurocity) '''Munich-Verona/Bologna''': Munich (D) – Kufstein (A) – Jenbach (A) – Innsbruck (A) – Brenner/Brennero – Franzensfeste/Fortezza – Brixen/Bressanone – Bolzano/Bozen – Trento – Rovereto – Verona – Bologna
*Regional Train (Südtirol Bahn Regio-Express) '''Bolzano/Bozen-Innsbruck''': Bolzano/Bozen – Brixen/Bressanone – Franzensfeste/Fortezza – Sterzing/Vipiteno – Brenner/Brennero – Innsbruck
*Regional Train (Südtirol Bahn Regio) '''Brixen/Bressanone-Lienz''': Brixen/Bressanone – Franzensfeste/Fortezza – Mühlbach/Rio di Pusteria – Vintl/Vandoies – Ehrenburg/Casteldarne – St. Lorenzen/San Lorenzo di Sebato – Bruneck/Brunico – Olang/Valdaora – Welsberg/Monguelfo – Niederdorf/Villabassa – Toblach/Dobbiaco – Innichen/San Candido – Lienz (A)
* Train connects at Verona with ÖBB [[EuroNight]] Rome-Vienna: DB CityNightLine splits into two trains (first half couples with ÖBB Rome-Vienna and leaves for Vienna or Rome; second half continues to Munich or Milan). Vienna-Rome splits into two trains (first half continues to Rome or Vienna; second half couples with DB CityNightLine for Milan or Munich).
By road, the town has two exits on the [[Brenner Autobahn]] that connects Brixen to the [[Brenner Pass]].
==Twin towns – sister cities==
Brixen is twinned with:<ref>{{cite web |title=Città gemellate|url=https://www.brixen.it/it/citta-gemellate/regensburg|website=brixen.it|publisher=Brixen|language=it|access-date=2019-12-18}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|SVN}} [[Municipality of Bled|Bled]], Slovenia, since 2004
*{{flagicon|CZE}} [[Havlíčkův Brod]], Czech Republic, since 1992
*{{flagicon|GER}} [[Regensburg]], Germany, since 1969
==Sports==
*Brixen hosted the [[2009 World Youth Championships in Athletics]].
*Brixen hosted the [[Unicon (unicycling)|16th Unicycle World Convention and Championships (UNICON)]] in July 2012.
==References==
{{reflist}}
==Further reading==
* Leo Andergassen, ''Der Dom zu Brixen. Geschichte, Raum, Kunst''. Bozen: Verlagsanstalt Athesia 2009. {{ISBN|978-88-82665975}}
* {{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Brixen | volume= 4 |last= Coolidge |first= William Augustus Brevoort |author-link= W. A. B. Coolidge|  page = 619 |short= 1}}
* Helmut Flachenecker, Hans Heiss, Hannes Obermair (eds), ''Stadt und Hochstift, Brixen, Bruneck und Klausen bis zur Säkularisation 1803 – Città e Principato, Bressanone, Brunico e Chiusa fino alla secolarizzazione 1803'' (= Veröffentlichungen des Südtiroler Landesarchivs 12). Bozen: Verlagsanstalt Athesia 2000. {{ISBN|88-8266-084-2}}
* Barbara Fuchs, Hans Heiss, Carlo Milesi, ''Brixen. Die Geschichte. Kunst, Kultur, Gesellschaft''. 2 vols. Bozen: Athesia/Tappeiner 2004–06
* Ludwig Tavernier, ''Der Dombezirk von Brixen im Mittelalter. Gestalt, Funktion, Bedeutung'' (= Schlern-Schriften 294). Innsbruck: Universitätsverlag Wagner 1996. {{ISBN|3-7030-0266-2}}
==External links==
{{Commons category-inline|Brixen}}
* {{in lang|de|it}} [http://www.brixen.it Homepage of the municipality]
* [http://www.jarekmrzyglod.com/index.php/2009/01/16/brixen/ Photos from Brixen] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023012258/http://www.jarekmrzyglod.com/index.php/2009/01/16/brixen/ |date=2017-10-23 }}
* [http://www.eisacktal-brixen-webcam.pezzei.info/ WebCam picture from Bressanone – Brixen] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240228161707/http://eisacktal-brixen-webcam.pezzei.info/ |date=2024-02-28 }}
{{South Tyrol}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Brixen| ]]
[[Category:Municipalities of South Tyrol]]