Welcome to Heinfels Castle!

Experience history with all senses.

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The imposing location of Heinfels Castle has always fascinated people: Beda Weber, theologian and writer, aptly described the fascination of the castle as "the queen who takes to the skies" in 1838 in his “handbook for travelers”.

Come with us on a journey through time, immerse yourself in the history of the castle and enjoy impressive views from the high towers and battlements!

 

Our opening hours in winter 2024/25

28.10.2024 - 31.03.2025

Private tours from 1 person and group tours possible!


+43 664 16 77 078
info@burg-heinfels.com

News

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.

After two successful events, the third edition of the spectacular running event "Count of Castle 2022" will take place on 1 July 2022. The start is at the historic "Punbrugge", the finish again the last level of the keep. The sprinters have to cover a distance of 1.1 km, 140 metres in altitude and 265 steps to get there.

The 25th edition of the International Choir Festival brings some choirs for the first time to Heinfels Castle! On Saturday, 18. 6., choirs from Italy will give a guest performance in the impressive historical scenery, starting at 1 pm. Free entry, welcome!

Recently, a Viscope telescope has been added to our castle tour! With a look through the telescope you get the most important info about the panoramic points like mountain peaks or places in the region.

We are really looking forward to the regular start of the new season on May 1st! In addition to our guided time travel through the historical castle, you can also explore the outdoor areas, the platforms and the keep on your own during the panoramic tour. In summer, many events invite you to visit the castle!

The museum opened as early as May, but it was not until July that the travel restrictions fell. By the end of the season on 7 November, 12,372 visitors had been counted at Heinfels Castle.

For the first time, the 10,000-visitor threshold was exceeded in one season. We were very happy about this together with our guests from Germany!

 

After more than 200 years, a bell rings again at Heinfels Castle. Bishop Hermann Glettler consecrated the new guardian angel bell on May 9.

New at the beginning of the 2021 season: The outdoor areas of Heinfels Castle can be explored on your own as part of the panoramic tour during opening hours! As soon as conditions permit, our guided tours of the extensive castle grounds will also take place.

Only rarely does the castle experience such winters; for weeks the complex lay under a thick layer of snow of over 150 cm. The access roads were barely kept clear and only with difficulty could the most important parts of the castle be reached.

On 15 July 2020 we opened Heinfels Castle. In this short and very challenging season, we were nevertheless able to welcome 5508 visitors in 659 guided tours until October 26 due to the worldwide pandemic with many travel restrictions!

On Wednesday, July 15, we started the first summer season with the museum, shop and castle tavern. The preparations for this were already in full swing for some time.

The current situation also has Heinfels Castle firmly under control. Construction work has resumed after the obligatory break and we are continuing to work flat out to complete the museum.

Three years ago the elaborate work on the largest profane restoration project in Tyrol began. All the roofs of the castle, with the exception of the tower from 1992, have now been newly roofed and the access paths inside the complex have already been paved. The opening of the museum is planned for early summer 2020

From May 2018 to the end of October 2019, more than 2800 visitors gained insights into one of the most exciting construction sites in the region.

It was a special day for the "Queen of the Puster Valley": On the 12th of July the guardian angel bell was cast in the bell foundry Grassmayr in Innsbruck. This is a continuation of the old tradition of bells in the castle.

During the restoration work, a special red chalk drawing from the early 16th century was uncovered. But this is not the only discovery!

Heinfels Castle’s main redevelopment should be complete and open once again to the general public within five years. An ambitious goal if you were to take a peek inside the imposing castle, as the last centuries haven’t been kind to the halls and chambers, leaving them to dilapidate.

On 16 November 2015, the concept regarding the future use of Heinfels Castle was presented to the district councils of the Tyrolean Oberland. If everything goes according o plan, the main redevelopment can take place during summer 2016.

The Südtiroler Burgeninstitut (the South Tyrolean Castle Institute) invited Management of the Museumsverein and the Steering Group to visit a number of castles in and around South Tyrol on 14 July 2015.

On 2 June 2015, the members of the ‘New Uses’ and ‘Redevelopment and Maintenance’ groups were met by gorgeous weather as they set out to visit the border fortress of Altfinstermünz in Nauders at the foot of the Finstermünzpass.

History of Heinfels Castle

Of Power and Might

The history of Heinfels Castle

On Heinfels, walls and towers connect in a unique way with the inhabitants of times long past. In 1210 the highest tower was built on the rock and marked a new reign. After the residential wing and curtain wall, the castle chapel was built in 1280. The castle was now owned by the once powerful Counts of Gorizia.

 

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Unterstützer

Für das Leader Projekt Burg Heinfels:
Realisierungsplanung museales Konzept
Für das Interreg V A - Projekt Türme und Burgen
Für das Interreg V A - Projekt Kulturelle Aufwertung der Kapelle S. Laurentius von Burg Heinfels		 Interreg V-A Italia-Österreich ITAT 2002
Interreg V-A Italia-Österreich ITAT 4018

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