A lot of water has gone down the Aurino River since the first stone was laid for the house at the bridge. But you can still sense the stories that have taken place in the Alte Mühle throughout its history. And they are definitely worth being told. Folks have always enjoyed going in and out of this house in the St. Moritzen district, close to the little church and only a stone’s throw away from the castle. Long before tourism was “invented” in the 1930s. If you look closely, you can find plenty of treasures from the past in the house. And if you like, Sepp and Beatrice will be happy to tell you one of the many little stories about the hotel. Take a look at the chronicle of the Alte Mühle with us:
1815
The mill rattles…
A marvellous grain mill stands on the babbling Aurino River – no one knows exactly how long it has been there. People from all over the valley come here to have their grain ground. Johann Jungmann, the great-great-grandfather of your hostess Beatrice, buys the mill and quickly sets up a business selling flour and baked goods. You can see the old flour lift in our show kitchen and we still have the drive of the old grain mill in the wine cellar.
1898
The mayor’s office
Now, Josef Jungmann, Johann’s grandson, is at work. Bruggenmüller, as everyone calls him, is a respected man. Not just because he’s a savvy businessman. He steers the village’s fortunes as mayor until 1925, and the old mill becomes his office for a while.
1878
Scourge of the water
Situated right on the Aurino River almost becomes the old mill’s undoing. It almost falls victim to a huge mudslide that makes its way through the natural riverbed and devastates half the village. Bruggenmüller and his supporters manage to stop the Aurino River and protect the village from further catastrophes.
1889
Reverend and the library
Josef Andreas Jungmann is born one year before the dawn of the new century. The inquisitive, pious young man soon finds himself drawn out into the wide world. To Bressanone, Innsbruck, Vienna and Munich. He becomes a Jesuit priest and strives to ensure that “ordinary folk” also understand what the parish priest preaches at mass. Josef Andreas will go far. He even becomes rector of the University of Innsbruck. If you want to follow in the footsteps of the priest, all you have to do is wander through our house. Or go to the library, which is now named after our famous ancestor.