The first cathedral can be dated back to the 10th century. It was destroyed in 1174 during a fire and then rebuilt. In the interior of the cathedral there is a monumental and baroque atmosphere. Powerful are the ceiling paintings of Paul Troger from MWelsberg. Apart from the high altar, there are other eight side altars, which alone because of the names of their donors underline the importance and the diversity of this basilica. The architectonic jewel of Brixen is the cloister of the cathedral, which is directly connected with it. It is an art historical monument of outmost importance and can be dated back to the 10th century. The cloister of Brixen with its arcades and frescoes, of which the majority can be dated back to the 14th and 15th century, is the heart of the complex of the cathedral. The Episcopal seat of Brixen with the Diocesan Museum and the Crib MuseumThe Diocesan Museum was founded in 1901 and has been situated in the Episcopal seat of Brixen since 1976. This palace, which was built after 1250 as residence of the prince-bishops of Brixen, was the Episcopal seat until 1964. The exhibition of sculptures, paintings and arts and crafts shows the development of the religious artistic production from the Romanesque period to the Modernity. Of national importance is the rich collection of Romanesque crucifixes and madonnas, the diversity of Gothic sculptures and panel paintings, and the medieval manuscripts.p> back