Lumen Museum of Mountain Photography at Kronplatz

LUMEN – Museum of Mountain Photography crowns the summit of Kronplatz near Bruneck in South Tyrol, at 2,275 metres above sea level and right in the heart of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Dolomites. Across four floors and 1,800 square metres of exhibition space, the museum explores the fascination of mountain photography — from the 19th-century pioneers who hauled their heavy equipment to the summits to the digital innovations of the present day.

Shutter, Room of Mirrors and Adrenaline

The permanent exhibitions combine nostalgia with innovation. In the Room of Mirrors, reality and illusion blur into a poetic exploration of the mountain atmosphere. "Pixel Storm" takes you on a journey into the world of digital photography. "The Marketed Mountain" traces how the image of mountains shifted from the seat of demons to a mass tourist destination. The Wall of Fame honours the pioneers of mountain photography, and the Wunderkammer invites wonder.

In the Adrenaline Room, created in collaboration with Red Bull Illume, multimedia installations bring extreme mountain sports to life. The architectural highlight is the Shutter — a giant aperture that opens at the press of a button, revealing a panoramic view of the surrounding Dolomite peaks. When closed, it serves as a projection surface for films and installations. Beyond its permanent and temporary exhibitions, LUMEN houses a large event hall for seminars, conferences and special occasions.

A Star Chef on the Summit

Under the same roof, the AlpiNN Food Space & Restaurant brings fine dining to the mountaintop. Star chef Norbert Niederkofler follows his uncompromising "Cook the Mountain" philosophy here: exclusively regional and seasonal ingredients, served with a breathtaking all-round view through floor-to-ceiling windows. Built on stilts, the restaurant seems to hover above the summit plateau.

Getting There by Cable Car

LUMEN is only accessible by cable car — the Kronplatz 2000 gondola from Reischach near Bruneck. From the museum, a 360-degree panorama unfolds over the Zillertal Alps, the Dolomites and the Puster Valley. The museum is open in both winter and summer, following the cable car's seasonal schedule. It closes in spring and late autumn.

LUMEN opened on 20 December 2018. Over two years of construction, Bruneck architect Gerhard Mahlknecht transformed the former cable car station from 1963 — which had latterly served as a restaurant and accommodation — into a modern museum building of understated elegance. The museum was created in collaboration between Kronplatz Holding AG and the TAP association (Tyrolean Archive for Photographic Documentation and Art), Red Bull Illume, Alinari and National Geographic.

The museum is accessible only by cable car.