The escape routes of Michael G.

Over the mountains - for the sake of freedom - 1525/26 to the present day.

Opening at Museum Burg Heinfels: Friday, 23/05/2025, 7.00 p.m.
Opening at LUMEN. Museum of Mountain Photography: Saturday, 24/05/2025, 11.00 a.m.

Duration of the exhibitions: 26.10.2025

If freedom and equal rights of cultural or religious minorities are threatened by political power, fleeing over the mountains to a safer region or into the mountains as a “natural exile” has been a common way out throughout history. This has not changed in the last 500 years until today's digital age.

The historical escape routes of Michael Gaismair and his army in 1525/26 as well as more recent escape routes from the 20th/21st century, which are shown in the exhibition in the form of pictures and photographs, are geographically divided into two presentation locations to the west and east of Bruneck: in the LUMEN. Museum for Mountain Photography at Kronplatz focuses on Graubünden/Gadertal/Padua and Karwendel/Pyrenees/Western Alps, while at Heinfels Castle the focus is on Zillertal/Salzburg/East Tyrol and Krimmler Tauern/Strandzha Mountains/Kurdistan.

 

2_Pfitscher Joch, 1901_Slg. Richard PIock TAP

Pfitscher Joch, 1901, Richard Piock Collection, TAP

Curators of the exhibition:
Dr. Richard Piock, President of the association Tiroler Photoarchiv TAP
Dr. Martin Kofler, Director at Tiroler Photoarchiv TAP

Partners:
Tiroler Archiv für photographische Dokumentation und Kunst (TAP)
LUMEN. Museum of Mountain Photography

 

With the kind support of

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Over the mountains - for the sake of freedom - 1525/26 to the present day: A joint exhibition with LUMEN. Museum of Mountain Photography on the occasion of the Euregio Museum Year 2025.

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.