Ansitz Freienfeld was built in 1521 by the Earl of Indermauer. (Courtyard surrounded by embattled walls.) In the large windows of the Trinkstube beautiful frescoes can be seen.
The theatre was designed by the Munich architect Martin Dülfer and inaugurated in 1900. It is a wonderful germ of eclectic Munich "Jugendstil" architecture. Marble and stucco decorations embellish the inside and the outside ot the theatre. It is dedicated to the Italian composer Giacomo Puccini.
One of the three remaninig medieval town gates which can still be admired today.
Three of the original four town gates still exist. The gates took the name oft the valleys or the towns fhey faced: Val Venosta, Bolzano, Val Passiria and Val d'Ultimo. The Ultimo Gate was situated in what is today piazza Teatro. On both sides of the Passiria Gate it is still possible to see what was once the town wall, built towards the end of the 13th century.
Around 19 mills were working around 1553 in Partschins/Parcines. The Formermühle on Wasserfallweg was built in 1920 and has been restored in 2009. (Attention! Visits only from the outside - private property)
Medieval tower high above Gargazon and the Etschtal Valley. The Trautson coat of arms can be seen above the round arched entrance. The tower is believed to have been built by Bertold Chrello-Trautson, whose name appears in records dating from 1237.
Built in the early 13th century with three-story keeps and living areas with Gothic parlours; a rare example of a medieval castle complex largely preserved in its original state; in the possession of the Counts of Brandis for 800 years. The castle is privately owned and cannot be visited.
The Masters of Braunsberg were first mentioned in the records in 1213; from 1492 in the possession of the Counts Trapp, latterly inherited by the Counts Strachwitz, who restored the castle; simple layout with a curtain wall, residential building, tower-like and chapel (St. Blasius).
The castle towering high above the Gaulschlucht gorge is a landmark of Lana. It was the seat of the Lords of Braunsberg mentioned in 1213, belonged to the Trapp Counts Matsch from 1492 to 1969 until Braunsberg Castle passed into the inheritance of the Counts Strachwitz in 1969.
The small and simple complex, part of which fell into the Gaulschlucht gorge in 1510, consists of a curtain wall, residential building, tower-like outbuilding and the St. Blasius Chapel. It was first mentioned in a document in 1323, but is certainly older because of its Romanesque architectural style and was originally located outside the castle walls.
Various stylistic periods can be found: The portal dates from the late Gothic period, the open pulpit from 1538, the crucifixion group and the figures of Saints Vigilius and Blasius from 1592 with frames from 1669 and the Baroque altar from 1690.
The castle is privately owned and cannot be visited.
The vast ruined fortress of Mayenburg stands on land that shows evidence of prehistoric settlement on a long hilly ridge in Foiana. It was built by the Counts of Eppan and is first mentioned in the records in 1241. In 1650 Count Veit Benno Brandis took over the castle and extended it considerably.
In 1922 the ruins were acquired and renovated by a family of physicians, the Auffingers. The imposing, closed complex still features sparse remnants of murals dating from the 15th and 16th centuries. The strong keep and round dovecote tower above the castle well are worthy of note.
The station, designed by Wilhelm von Flattich, was put into operation in 1871 together with the Pustertal Railway, which was driven by the Südbahn company. From 1921 it also served as a separation station between the running in east-west direction Pustertal Railway and the Dolomite Railway, which branched off from Dobbiaco south to the Val di Landro/Höhlensteintal. However, in 1962, when the northern branch of the Dolomite Railway was closed, the Toblach station lost this function again.
As part of a total renovation of the Puster Valley Railway, redevelopments were also carried out in Dobbiaco/Tobalch in 2009: The realized construction measures included adapted platforms, an underpass and a new access.
Eschenlohe Castle is located at the crossroads between Rio Fratta/Hagenbach and Valsura/Falschauer high above St. Pankraz in Ulten Valley. The castle can be seen only from outside!
The Arcades connect Piazza Duomo with Piazza del Grano. They were built, according to tradition, in the middle of the 13th century, in accordance with the wishes of Meinhard II, Count of Tyrol, as a center for merchants and craftsmen. Since the 14th century the Arcades have been divided into "The River Arcades", on the side nearest the river Passirio and "The Mountain Arcades" on the side nearest the mountain.
The mansion was originally built in 1348 by Meinhard, Edler von Gaudenz (an aristocrat from Gaudenz). Since that time it underwent several renovations, especially during the Baroque period. The Erker oval windows, sundial and coat of arms symbolizing the alliance, date back to the 17th century.
Ownership of the property changed hands several times, as shown below:
1348-1402: Edle von Gaudenz; 1402-1586: Edle von Hendl; 1586-1600: Herren von Stachlburg; 1600-1619: Cyriac von Waltenhofen; 1619-1638: Edle von Roladin; 1638-1657: Edle Aichner von Aichberg; 1657-1680: Johann Edler von Kreutzer of Innsbruck; 1680-1730: Edle von Bauer; 1740-1794: Edle von Wiesenegg
In 1792 the house was bought by Anton Simon von Isser, a chronicler from Meran/Merano, who four years later changed his surname to ‘von Gaudententurm’ when entering the nobility. It was via his grandson, the Viennese physician and neurologist, Dr. Friedrich Leopold von Sölder zu Prakenstein (1867-1943) that the residence passed on to the present-day owners.
The inner courtyard and cellars are open to the public during the weekly Schnaps tasting events.
The private interior rooms are not open for public viewing.
The St. Catherine church in Aica di Fiè was originally dedicated to St. Michael.
The frescoes on the exterior wall were made in 1420 and are worth a second glance. They show us the legend of the Christian princess Catherine of Alexandria.
At the beginning of the Sarntal Valley you'll find Runkelstein Castle, on the northern outskirts of town. You can easily get there on foot walking the lush green Talfer promenade or using a bike by taking the bike path. You can also hop on number 12 bus (Sunday Nr. 14), as well as the free shuttle departing from Walther Square (for further information contact Bolzano's Tourism Office). At the foot of the castle you'll find parking space for cars and bikes. Built in 1237 on a jutting edge of rock, the castle has been worked on and enlarged many times over and it boasts a collection of beautiful frescoes, depicting life scenes from court, hunting parties, knightly tournaments and scenes from everyday life. Literary depictions are not missing, as they also illustrate the adventures of Tristan and Isolda and those of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. It is the biggest collection of profane frescoes and the best preserved one of the Middle Age. There are always some interesting cultural events going on at the castle, wich from time to time liven up the halls and court of Roncolo. A restaurant offers the chance to taste local dishes in a medieval setting.
Patronal feast: June 29th.
The church ruins date back to the 5th century AD. The building reminds of church buildings in Aquileia and Milan. During excavations, the old position of the altar as well as the relic chamber could be determined. The S. Peter ruin in Altenburg is probably the oldest Tyrolean church ruin. Its decay began with the closure of the church in 1782.
Source: Parish office Kaltern
Three of the original four town gates still exist. The gates took the name oft the valleys or the towns fhey faced: Val Venosta, Bolzano, Val Passiria and Val d'Ultimo. The Ultimo Gate was situated in what is today piazza Teatro. On both sides of the Passiria Gate it is still possible to see what was once the town wall, built towards the end of the 13th century.
The Herbst Castle is named after the Brothers Kaspar and Christoph Herbst who built the Castle in 1500. In 1511, the Herbst Castle was used as a residence by Emperor Maximilian I.
Visits available only from the outside.
The complex was bought in 1500 by the brothers Kaspar and Christoph Herbst zu Herbstenburg and rebuilt into a fortified complex. It was the center of a fortified complex that extended through underground passages to the so-called "Red Tower" in the northwestern part of the village. In the cellars of the castle were the prisons of the Dobbiaco court.
In the years 1508 to 1511 the castle was the seat of the court quarters of Emperor Maximilian I of Habsburg. It was there that in 1511 the decision was made to wage war against the Republic of Venice.
The castle was build in the 14th century. The lock was seat of the former court of Gufidaun. 1880 the well-known Germanist Ignaz Zingerle bought the expanded castle plant and today she is still inhabited by its descendants and cannot be visited.
Late-Gothic church, closed under the reign of Emperor Joseph II in 1785, which was dedicated to the Irish abbot and itinerant monk Columba (d. 615). A chamfered, sandstone-framed pointed-arch portal on the ground floor of the west façade, two stone-framed rectangular windows at the sides and the large sandstone corner blocks (15th century) all recall the former church.
Stufels is a hidden jewel of Brixen: Inhabited in the neolithic and roman periods, it is considered one of the most charming quarters of the episcopal city. Located between the rivers Eisack and Rienz, Stufels has a picturesque building stock. With its guardian angel church, attractive shops and artistic highlights, Stufels invites you to stroll around as well as take a relaxing stroll along the riverbank. Whoever visits Stufels approaches Brixen's actual core: quality of life in its most beautiful form.
In Eppan | Piganò, above Castel Gandegg, you find near Castel Englar the residence Moos Schulthaus. A little bit hidden, how it is usual for an insider tip, you can find a nice little museum for Middle Aged living.
Around the middle of the 13th century the dynasty of the Rottenburger built a Romanesque residential tower above the location Pigenò. Around the 14th century it was transformed and extended into a gothic residence for hunting. After the extinction of the Rottenburg in 1410, the complex ended up in the hands of the princes and later on to the Lords of Firmian and around 1500 to the Earl Spaur who expanded it even more. Until the middle of the 19th century it remained in the hands of the aristocrats of Schulthaus. With this intense change of property and the related architectural procedures caused a special fusion of connected elements, interlaced and on different levels situated premises and last but not least style characteristics of different époques. In 1958 Walther Amonn, merchant of Bozen and patron, bought the complex and had it costly restored and opened it for the public in 1985.
Well worth seeing are especially the frescos of the premises, which are a unique example of gothic mural art and give an insight in the life and philosophy of that time.
For the exploration of this historical valuable area around Castel Moss-Schulthaus, with the castles Englar and Gandegg together with the residences of Pigenò, we suggest the marked hiking and biking trails.
Site of the Roman settlement Sebatum, once spreading from the Schraffl-Bühel vis-à-vis the Heilig-Kreuz-Kirche guite far downstream the Rienz on both sides (new digs have been undertaken from time to time). There are remains of residential buildings, storehouses and troop quarters.
Attractive building from 1634 incorporating an original part of the old City walls, maintained its official function until 1780. Right up in front of it a plaque which commemorates Saint Andrew's Church (demolished in 1785) and in front of it you can admire the picturesque Piazza del Grano Kornplatz (Wheat Square), embellished by nice shops and restaurants, one the main wheat market and of other land produce. In this respect we are talking about the firs main urban centre of Bolzano/Bozen together with the castle of the Prince-Bishops of Trento, founders of the City: the Castle was probably destroyed by Mainhard II during one of his incursions to obtain control over the important commercial town (1277).
An alley leads to the church between the Steinbock inn and the village smith. The alley is called “Defregger-alley” due to the fact that the history painter Franz von Defregger (1835-1921) used this idyllic subject as a background for his famous painting “Das letzte Aufgebot – the last array”. This alley, which depicts the ensemble of both churches and the cemetery, was left unchanged in the last 500 years.
Not long time ago a good income for farmers came from the production of withewash. With its sale the economic balnce of the council was balanced. Olang, but in particular Geiselberg were very famous for its production. The quality of whitewash changed depending of in which hoven it was prepared. After the bif fire that caused the partial destruction of Olang in 1904, there was a big production of whitewash due to the need of rebuildg the village. With the industrial developement the production of whitewash came to and end at the beginning of the 60´s of the XX century. Nowaday only the hooven in in Untermühlbach keeps the tradition.
Häuserl am Stein is one of the most fascinatingly odd buildings in all of South Tyrol. Its history, in fact, sounds a bit like a fairy tale. A long time ago, just below St. Pankraz in Ulten Valley many small farm houses were situated at the banks of the Falschauer brook. In 1882 the river was flooded and took every single house with it, apart from one. The legendary Häuserl am Stein, in fact, had been built by pure accident on a gigantic rock which only became visible after the floods.
The Steinerner Steg or “Roman Bridge” is the oldest bridge over the River Passer and was was built in the 17th century. It is situated where the winter and summer promenades end, and where the Gilfpromenade begins. This, and replaced a medieval wooden structure that linked Obermais to the city centre. Its original function was to carry the drinking water pipeline from one side of the river to the other. The Steinerner Steg is often also erroneously called the “Roman Bridge”, probably on account of its apparently Roman/ancient construction method.
Der Großteil befindet sich rund um Bozen. In dieser Gegend fällt dir bestimmt eine architektonische Eigenheit bei den Ansitzen auf, schlossähnliche Bauten aus der Neuzeit bestehend aus einem Herrenhaus und einem Gebäude für landwirtschaftlichen Zweck. Ihr sogenannter Überetscher Stil ist eine Kombination aus nordischer Gotik mit Türmchen und Elementen der italienischen Renaissance – und eben genau in der Gegend zwischen Bozen und Kaltern an der Weinstraße zu finden.
