Hrady a zámky, muzea, umění, historické poklady i současné památky. I tyto zajímavosti a památky jsou součástí úspěšné objevitelské cesty po Jižním Tyrolsku.
Welfenstein is a castle in South Tyrol between Trens and Mauls in the municipality of Freienfeld near Sterzing. It is located in the Wipptal on the orographic left side of the Eisack river.
The castle can be visited only from outside.
Schlandersberg Castle is built on the bare rock-face above the town of Silandro/Schlanders and has remained in its present form since the 16th Century. Schlandersberg Castle was originally the residence of the Schlandersbergs, one of the most influential families in the South Tyrol during the 15th Century. After the last member in the family line died in 1813, a farmer bought the castle and today the castle remains private property and is inaccessible to the public.
A short distance from the town centre on the road to Cirlano, you will find the ruins of the St. Laurentius church. Waggoners and wanderers of days gone by would often seek refuge here and were on occasion stripped of their possession by bands of unscrupulous thieves.The ruins were carefully restored by the Association for the Preservation of Local Heritage, and is lovingly cared for and maintained by its members. Equally so the cornfields right next to the church, which have been revived and are farmed using traditional methods of agriculture to preserve the cultural landscape of bygone days.
Wehrburg Castle was built during the 13th century and was owned for more than five centuries by the Lords von Andrian-Wehrburg whose dynasty was extinct in 1798. In 1520 the castle was renovated without changing the original building structure in any major way. The castle still contains some old stoves (16th and 19th Centuries). It is assumed that the present castle chapel was built during the 15th Century. It is consecrated to Saint Erasmus and contains a remarkable fresco, as well as a high-quality pieta from the time around 1420. A Hungarian count, Albert von Eperjessey, k.u.k.-messenger in Teheran, bought the Wehrburg and started some extensive renovations. In 1957, Hermann Holzner, the Mohrenwirt of Prissian bought the Wehrburg and changed it into a hotel.
The Zwingenburg Castle it is situated above Prissiano. Zwingenburg Castle was first mentioned in 1237. In 1274, the sovereign Meinhard II bought the castle. Around 1800, already in ruins, it became farming ground. Count von der Schulenburg acquired the ruins and re-build the castle around 1900. Today, it is once again in farming hands.
The romantic Castle ruin Rafenstein rises high above the city of Bolzano at the entrace of Sarentino Valley.
The Farmstead Finailhof is one of the oldest farms in Schnalstal Valley, first records date back to the 11th century. It is known for its rare visit in 1416. Those days the farmers harbored Duke Frederick IV by employing him as a shepherd. Until 1967, the farm was highest one in Europe which cultivated cereals. To preserve the rural culture and architecture the entire farm became a listed building in 1981. Today the family Gurschler lives with four generations on the farm and welcomes guests in their „Stube“ and a huge sunny terrace with a great view over the lake Vernago/Vernagt.
You will soon find more information about the Garber in Prissian/Prissiano.
Former rectory with Gothic bell tower.
The merlons, slits and the sculptured faces in the stone decorate the Gothic bell tower of Jenesien town hall buildung, once the village school and rectory.
The Zeilheim raised hide was built in the 17th century. Since 1977 the town hall is located in this historic building. Since 1977 the town hall of the municipality of Taufers has been located in there. The public library of Taufers and the nature park house Rieserferner Ahrn are located in the modern building.
Castle Dornsberg (also called Castle Tarantsberg) has been established in 1217 by the Lords von Tarant. The castle has panels, tiled stove, carved doors and windows, and many more elements. In the Saint Ursula chapel there is also a winged altar, the walls boast ancient paintings. In the heart of the castle, the donjon towers into the sky. Castle Dornsbeg was owned by various families until in 1964 the Gottschall family from Munich purchased the castle and had it restored. Still to this day Castle Dornsberg is in possession of this family and is not open to the public.
The castle, which formed part of the Vicarage of Corzes/Kortsch, was ceded as part of a feudal exchange by the Diocese of Frisinga to the Bavarian Counts of Moosburg. Today, all that remains is a tower with frescoes.
At the Stallwies farm, one of the highest farms in South Tyrol, is an old mill not far from the farm. The Kornhof, on which rye is still grown today, has processed the grain in the mill itself. Visit the old mill and gain an insight into ancient traditions.
The "Jaufenburg" above St. Leonhard was built in the 13th and 14th Century by the men of the Passeiertal Valley and was once a magnificent castle. As well as many picture presentation boards about the history of the castle, you can also visit the court house, shield farms, wall frescoes from 1538, listen to an audio recording of legends and enjoy the unique view.
Dating from the 13th century, with gothic chapel from the 15th century. Was the property of the Lords of Mazia (choir chair and altar are located in the regional museum in Innsbruck). Later the castle became the property of the Counts of Annenberg.
Cannot be viewed interior - private property.
Greifenstein castle is enthroned high above the village of Siebeneich/Settequerce. It was first mentioned in 1159. During the war between the Counts of Tyrol and the Bishop of Trient, in 1275/1276, the castle was destroyed. Only in 1334, the small aristocrats, the Lords of Greifenstein decided to re-built it again. On a few years later, in 1348, it was burnt down. In latter years (once more re-built in 1363), Greifenstein went into the hands of the Lords of Starkenberg. In 1420, when a part of the Tyrolean aristocracy went into war against the sovereign Duke Frederick of Austria, the sovereign had the castle besieged and starved out. Amongst the duke's enemies was also the minnesinger Oswald von Wolkenstein. He wrote a poetic song about the duke's besieger and made fun of them. The duke's army could not take Castle Greifenstein, but the fight of the aristocracy and the castle's owner, Wilhelm von Starkenberg, became meaningless and, therefore, the Lord of Starkenberg escaped probably through a crevice at the south-western part of the castle. His 18 servants gave up their resistance once they were promised free withdrawal. Today, Castle Greifenstein is merely a ruin.
In common language, it is also called the Sauschloss. This name derived from a legend, which speaks about the time of the siege. During this time, the people inside the castle had to face fact that they were left with no food. There was only one well fattened pig in the castle's cellar. Suddenly, one of the servants had an idea: instead of slaughtering the animal, they threw it with much laughter over the castle walls and down the rock just in front of the besiegers. When those realised what just had happened, they lost all courage as they believed that the castle's inhabitants still had lots of food available. Therefore, they withdrew ..... and Greifenstein was saved.
The ruin of St. Valentine was the precurser of today's church in Salonetto/Schlaneid. The wooden church was build in the 8th century, but was replaced by a stone church just one century later. In the following 1000 years the church was architecturally changed multiple times, and completely renewed in 1770, when the church was replaced by a new one in the village center.
Casatsch Pfeffersburg Castle which once stood on the rop of a high-ranging hill above the village Nals, now only contains some ruined walls. In 1194, Konrad II of Beseno, bishop of trento, loaned to Ulrich Ruf, the brothers Heinrich and Friedrich von Pitzol, Marquard, Hartwig and During of Tesimo with a hill called the „Casac“ which was found above Nalles in the parish of Tisens. He permitted these men to build a castle. The planning permission was linked to the condition that the castle was always open for the bishop, his successors and to the Counts of Eppan to whom the builders were subjects. During the second half of the 14th Century, the castle‘s ownership went to the Lords von Greifenstein and in 1390 into the hands of the Botsch dynasty. With some interruptions when amongst other people, the Lords von Zwingenstein are listed as owners, all in all, the Casatsch Castle stayed in the hands of the Botsch family. Marx Sittich von Wolkenstein called the castle „Pfeffersburg“. After the extinction of the Botsch family, the ruins became part of the Stachelburg, then under the ownership of the Barons von Schneeburg and finally the Giovanelli family. During the last few years, the ruins were mentioned several times in the media. The present owner, Verena Jordan organised extensive renovation work which was finished in 2002.
You will soon find more information about the Untertreibgasser-house here
The majestic high building shows four corner towers (square at the bottom and round on the top) ...
... regulated rows of windows and a high roof, symmetrical room divisions and huge hallways with vaulted ceilings on the main floor, where the year 1584 can be seen. Upper floors entail flat ceilings where the walls and ceilings in the rooms are wood-panelled. The ceilings in the small oriels are arched and ridged. The wooden statue “ Mary with her sword” (XIV century) stands on the altar in the chapel, which is dated back to the year 1730. Very interesting is the extremely high roof truss, a proof of the superb knowledge of the builders themselves. The residence was begun in 1582 by Hans Fieger, Lord of the Courts of Taufers. The building was finished in 12 months. It was restored in 1864 by Johann von Ottenthal.
The castle is privately owned and is not open to the public.
Castel Katzenzungen was first mentioned in 1244 when it was owned by Henricus de Cazenzunge. Between the 16th and the 18th Century, the castle had its golden age when it was owned by the Lords von Breisach, who originally came from Alsace. Then, it was one of the most elegant aristocratic residences in the country. With the extinction of this dynasty, the Renaissance sastle was transformed into farming area and was only renovated after the Pobitzer family from Meran bought the grounds in 1978. For some years, Castel Katzenzungen with its magnificent rooms, panelled Renaissance lounges, the black smoking kitchen and the arched ceiling cellars has been used once again for its original purpose, which is that of a „summer residence“. The programme features in particular cultural and gastronomic events.
In front of the castle, below the stone bridge leading to the castle entrance, the largest and probably oldest vine in the world thrives. According to the latest scientific findings, the white wine vine "Versoaln" is at least 360 years old and its 300 m² canopy of foliage springs from only one rootstock.
Tschenglsburg Castle, also known as Fuchsburg, remains a unitary building complex despite its different construction periods. At its entrance, there is the great entrance portal dating from the year 1000, with a keystone in the white marble arch engraved with the family coat of arms. The castle was privatized in 1860 and is today a popular cultural tavern.
Near the Brunner Hotel in Vernuer/Vernurio there is a fully preserved sawmill dating back to 1906.
Open daily for visits.
Castle Hochnaturns is located above from the village Naturno/Naturns. The Roman Tower has been changed in Mediaeval style and in the middle of the 13th century the “Oswald Tower” has been established and named after Oswald von Naturns, who was a knight of the Teutonic Order. From then on, the castle was the principle residence of the Lords of Naturns (Naturno). After various owners, Castel Hochnaturns had its prime in the 16th century has been equipped with various items such as wood ceilings or tilted stove. Then came a period of decay until Franz Ritter von Goldegg had the castle restored in the 19th century. As the complex has been changed into a hotel, its original shape can only be guessed. The castle was designated a historic monument in 1950. Today, Castel Hochnaturns is in private ownership and cannot be visited.
Schlandersburg Castle was built around 1600 as the residence of the Hendl aristocrats. The castle was later enlarged thus becoming one of the most important Renaissance edifices in the entire Venosta Valley. In 1988, the castle was placed under the administration of the Autonomous Province of Bolzano and today it houses a public library in addition to the Employment offices and those of the Forestry Department - and the Menhir exhibition.
In 2013, two menhirs dating to the Copper Age were recovered from pieces of marble during the conversion work for a gardening shop in Vezzano/Vetzan, near Silandro/Schlanders. Since March 2017, the menhirs have been showcased at Schlandersburg Castle as part of a comprehensive thematic exhibition. In addition to these two original pieces, eighteen abstract pictorial figures made of metal are also displayed, which represent the eighteen menhirs found in South Tyrol and Trentino in recent decades.
The two unique sculptures, with male and female attributes respectively, give us an intriguing insight into the history of the area. The male sculpture is over 3 m in height, and wears a belt from which the handle of a dagger sticks out. The female menhir wears a robe and a necklace. The original set-up of these two sculptures can no longer be recovered; most likely they formed part of a larger group of figures.
You will soon find more information about the Faznager-house here.
