Bressanone/Brixen – Venue of the IMS
A brief overview
The IMS will take place in the small and snug town of Bressanone/Brixen in South Tyrol. Click here for more information on how to get there.
Bressanone/Brixen is a charming little town with picturesque lanes and arcades, the Lauben, as well as a precious cathedral, the "White Tower", the Bishop's Palace with its museum of nativity scenes and cloister, one of the most significant wall painting monuments in the alpine region with precious frescos from the 14th to 16th century.
Facts and figures about Bressanone/Brixen...
... largest and most important town of the Isarco/Eisacktal valley. Oldest town in the whole of Tyrol: over 1000 years old
... approx. 20,000 inhabitants – third-largest town in South Tyrol
... all three languages of our region – German, Italian and Ladin – are spoken in Bressanone/Brixen
... located at 559 m above sea level, it is an ideal starting point for hikes in the Dolomites
Bressanone/Brixen - the town of Bishops...
Bressanone/Brixen is the religious centre of South Tyrol and shares the seat of the Diocese with the capital of the province, Bolzano/Bozen. Pope Benedict XVI, whose ancestors come from the nearby Pusteria/Puster valley, has visited the town on various occasions and spent his 2008 summer holidays in Bressanone/Brixen.
Centre of sports and entertainment...
Bressanone/Brixen and its surroundings are an ideal destination for sports fans and those who are looking for active holidays: the Acquarena Water Park offers anything from simple swimming to relaxation in saunas and spas. Mountain bikers will be spoilt for choice between the many mountain trails, and relaxed cycling along the Isarco/Eisack river is also a real treat. And there's more: Nordic Walking, horseback riding, tennis, paragliding or, in winter, skiing, sledding and snowboarding - there's something in it for everybody!
In July 2009, Bressanone/Brixen will host the World U18 Championships in Athletics.
There's plenty of entertainment thanks to the many performance in the Kellertheater, interesting conferences and films and the generally very lively night life in the town centre. And there's always a reason for celebration with many festivals in town and on mountain pastures, or Törggelen (chestnut roasting) in autumn… We absolutely recommend the IMS "warming down" activities with the mountaineering legends!
A hiker's paradise...
Bressanone/Brixen has plenty of different landscapes to offer: mountain pastures in full bloom, unique vie ferrate and majestic rock towers reaching up into the sky. There's a huge variety of activities for leisure and professional sports fans.
