Tous les châteaux forts & châteaux

About an hour from Seis am Schlern you will find the ruins of Hauenstein on an enormous mountain slope. These ruins were once home to poet and singer Oswald von Wolkenstein, and every so often in the quiet of the night, one can hear the sounds of violins and the mournful song of a maiden who is said to have been bewitched there. Late one evening, shepherds were guarding their flocks around the castle. They sat to rest at the entrance to the castle and recounted one tale after another. All of a sudden, they sensed that somebody in the castle had opened a window. They looked up and saw, through the shimmering light of the open window, a woman combing her long hair. Her head, however, was but a skull, and the shepherds blood curdled at the sight of such beautiful hair growing from a head so fearsome. The woman threw stones and sand at the flock of sheep, who ran in terror. It's believed that the skeleton is the wife of a banished knight, destined to roam the castle until the return of her lost spouse.

In 1523, the inn of Laurenz Wurnigger from Carinthia, also called Windisch, who is probably still remembered by the "Windischwald" (forest) above the village. The owner is Juliana Puphtalerin, wife of Wolfgang Canz, a country writer in Rottenburg am Neckar and in 1551 bailiff of the dominion of Bregenz. In 1554, the inn "zum Payr" was sold. Until 1611, this house was called "zum Zotten", before it was renamed "Wirthshaus An der Roten Rosen" (Inn at the Red Roses) by Georg Osterried, the caretaker of the Fuggers at Enn Castle, and in 1619 it fell to Susanna Payr of Caldiff as a debt. After several changes of ownership, Pastor Alexander Giovanelli acquired this house in 1717 and 1725. When he died in 1743, he bequeathed his entire estate to the poor, the church and the brotherhood in Montan, as well as a benefice he had founded in his home village of Carano. Property of the Resch family from 1744 to 1782, then owned by the Zuveith family until 1908. Since 1908 property of the Amplatz family.

A special feature of this house is the Gothic parlour with its richly carved beamed ceiling, which bears witness to around 500 years of living culture. Also preserved are sandstone frames on the entrance door and window, the latter with a pentagram and the year 1565.

Was put into the present form in 1580 by Count Kleinhans and is decorated with frescoes on the interior and red chalk drawings on the outside. The baroque chapel St. Anna (spanish influence) was built in the 17th century. Over its portal is enthroned the so-called "Wessobrunn Madonna in the rosary" by Gregor Schwenzengast. Kleinhans was captain of the army in Spain.
Can not be viewed in the interior - private property.

The Residence Mairhof in Schanzen near Coldrano of the bishops of Chur is a core construction from the 14th century. It was the seat of the curch judge of Chur in the Unter-Scala diocese that also controlled the episcopal court. In addition to its judicial function, the Mairhof residence was also used to accommodate the bishops of Chur during their extensive pastoral and visitation trips. The residence was expanded to a four-storey tower with apartments in the 15th and early 16th century. Cannot be viewed in the interior - private property.

At the exit of the Sirmian river canyon, just below Castle Payersberg, you will find the well-presented, occupied and cultivated Schwanburg. The fortress, which is also called Gaul House was first mentioned in 1286 in a document of the parish church in Bolzano. Since the 14th Century, it was the property of the Lords of Boymundt-Payersberg. Lord Jacob changed the residence between 1560 and 1575 to what it looks like today. He called the annex after the swan in his coats of arms: Schwanburg. Besides black bull of the Boymundter family which they used for a long time, the Lords of Payersberg also had a proud white swan on a blue background in their coat of arms. Today, these animals are still part of the official coat of arms of the village of Nals. The castle consists of a picturesque group of individual buildings with loggias and representative staircases, which surround a courtyard. At the entry gate, the coat of arms of the Boymundt-Payersberger can be seen, together with the year 1560. In the courtyard, you will find a beautiful sundial marked with the year 1563, as well as two walled Roman stones with ivy around them. Castle Schwanburg was the oldest private wine cellar in South Tyrol and today is mainly used as a living and administration building by the company Rudolf Carli Erben. The wine growing estate extends over a surface of approximately 15 hectares and had produced South Tyrolean quality wines under the logo Castel Schwanburg. Besides hundreds of small French oak barrels (barriques), there are also a number of wooden barrels from the time of Empress Maria Theresia in the wine cellar.

Privately owned - not allowed to visit!

With its 65,000 square metres of space, Franzensfeste is the largest historical complex in South Tyrol. Begun in 1833 under Emperor Franz Josef, this masterpiece of Austrian fortress architecture was opened by Emperor Ferdinand in 1838 after a construction period of only five years. By this time, however, it had already lost its strategic importance and justification. The enormous effort and the horrendous costs - for nothing. From then on, the huge fortress was only of use as a depot and was frozen in the Sleeping Beauty sleep of a strictly guarded military installation for over a century and a half. Since the military left the fortress in 2003, Franzensfeste has been open to the public and was extensively renovated in the course of two major exhibitions in 2008 and 2009. As a South Tyrolean Provincial Museum, Franzensfeste Fortress is now a magnet for tourists and locals alike and a popular venue for a wide variety of exhibitions and events.

January and february: winter break

The old Lippa sawmill from the 19th century is located in Oberolang, in an easily accessible location in the immediate vicinity of the Val Pusteria cycle path and the Olang nature and culture trail. It is the last remaining Venetian sawmill, which was restored and put back into operation in 2011 after it was last used in 1958. It is a unique testimony to the history of the Val Pusteria timber industry.

Guided tours are only possible in SUMMER! For more information, please contact the Valdaora/Olang tourist office.

The medieval Schoneck Castle is located 958 meters above sea level and is said to be the birthplace of the famous poet and playwright Oswald von Wolkenstein (1377-1445), although this has not been historically proven . It is believed that the ruins of Pacherhof, birthplace of famous artist and sculptor Michael Pacher, are also nearby. Schöneck Castle was built in the mid-13th century by the Dukes of Rödeneck; The first mention of this complex dates back to 1155 and 1164.

Over time, it became the property of the Tyrolean counts, and Engelmar von Willanders later became the owner of the Schoneck estate. Today, not only the cathedral is preserved, but also fragments of the palace, ruins of the chapel and fragments of the historic wall. In the ruins of the castle chapel there is also a fresco by master Michael Pacher. The castle is private property and inaccessible. Today, there is also a restaurant of the same name nearby.

The castle is private property and may not be entered.

The chapel, dedicated to all saints, is located in the basement of Fahlburg Castle.

The imposing ruins of Lichtenberg Castle are a landmark with centuries of history. The castle was built in the 12th century by the Bishop of Chur and later passed to the Counts of Tyrol. It once served as a fortified residence. Today, the castle is largely in ruins, but its impressive silhouette still dominates the landscape.

A visit to the ruins transports visitors back to the time of knights and nobility. The mighty walls of the large palace with its well-preserved window openings give an idea of how magnificent the castle once was. The view over the valley is particularly fascinating – a perfect photo opportunity!

The castle ruins are easily accessible on foot. A short but rewarding hike starts in Prad am Stilfserjoch or in the district of Lichtenberg and leads through picturesque paths up to the ruins. Mountain bikers also use the route as part of their tours through the Vinschgau Valley.

Those interested in history can visit Churburg Castle in Schluderns or the Vinschgau Museum to learn more about the Middle Ages and the noble families of the region.



The Lichtenberg Castle ruins are an ideal place for nature and culture lovers. Whether as a hiking destination, photo spot or historic retreat, a visit is worthwhile in every season!

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.

The castle Obermontani was built in 1228 by Albert II of Tyrol as defence against the Bishops of Chur and is the place where the original handwritten copy of the "Nibelungenlied" was found; now it is in the public record office of Berlin-Dahlem. Viewing only possible from outside.

The Tennis Centre in Via Piave 46 - in the middle of town with its own restaurant - has nine perfectly well kept clay courts (five of which are lighted) and two hard courts and is open from April to October. Between the end of October and the end of May you may play indoor on heated courts.

The Merano Tennis Club is well equipped with ample and comfortable locker rooms and showers.

The location of Castel Freudenstein makes you enjoy a great view on Bolzano and the mountain ranges of the surroundings. Catinaccio, Sciliar and large parts of the Val d’Adige, this is what you can admire from Castel Freudenstein. This mighty mansion was constructed in the High Middle Ages, in the 13th century.

Enjoy good home-made food in our traditional country inn. We serve varied menus with biological products from our farm.

BOOKING REQUIRED!!

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.

It was most probably built at the same time (the end of the 12th century or the beginning of the 13th century) and probably used for fires that were used as signals. Kreideturm: the tower is situated just 50 m below Burg Hocheppan. Architectural style: a wall, which has now fallen down, surrounded the tower. There are still a few metres visible on the south side. On the other side there is a lower lying entrance that was probably used to light the fires. The inside of the tower is a narrow dark shaft. Walking: all walks to Hocheppan go past this tower.

The route through the rock tunnel at Mt. Lagazuoi is accessible from the top station of the cable car Lagazuoi with only 10 minutes walk on an easy well signposted path.

In 1996 the main tunnel in the rock (about 3 km long) as well as the side tunnels were restored and rebuilt at their original length. The restoration was possible thanks to the cooperation of the Italian and Austrian military corps.

In the side tunnels you can see utensils and weapons from the First World War and information panels which illustrate the events of the war.

At the base station of the Lagazuoi cable car you can rent tape recorders with English commentary.

The “Hofkeller” was first mentioned in documents at the beginning of the 14th century. It has a massive gable roof. It was once the seat of the feudal administration, which passed from the Lords of Salorno/Salurn to the Counts of Tyrol. On the east side of the building, on the ground floor, there is a large hall with a cross vault supported by two rows of seven slender columns made of Prun stone and by pilasters. The imposing building already impressed the first South Tyrolean chronicler Marx Sittich von Wolkenstein, as he wrote in his description of Tyrol published in 1600.

10 meditational spots are found along the side of the path until you reach the "Franziskus and Klara" chapel, the ruin from the Toblburg Castle.

Emma Hellensteiner (23 April 1818 - 9 March 1904)

Emma Hellenstainer was a charismatic host, an excellent cook and a pioneer for tourism in the Alpine region. The “Schwarzer Adler” (Black Eagle), as the Hotel Emma was known then, became known far beyond the country’s borders. Her charm captivated guests from all over the world. Visitors from Germany, Great Britain, Italy - they all came to Villabassa because of the beautiful local landscape, but mainly because of Emma and her engaging personality.

This magnificent castle, built by Hugo von Montalban in the year 1278, has been the summer residence of well-known mountaineer Reinhold Messner since 1983 and is one of Messner's five Mountain Museums. The castle houses Messner's extensive collection of fascinating items from Tibet and numerous masks from all over the world as well as interesting paintings of mountain scenes.

This year the museum can be experienced without guidedtours. Instead, visitors can download the trilingual“Locandy-App”, on which Reinhold Messner will guide you through the museum and tell you about it (works like an audioguide on your mobilephone).

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 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 “J. A. Jungmann” and the nature park house Rieserferner Ahrn are located in the modern building, built in 2001. The Zeilheim cannot be visited. 

Extended structure consisting of three components dating from the Renaissance of the early 17th century. The starting point for its architectural development was a two-storey Gothic core on the Kirchplatz with the basement containing two large, vaulted rooms used for agricultural purposes. Several sandstone-framed windows and a portal in stone with lozenge-shaped ashlars and rosettes indicate the significant extension works during the Renaissance.

A large park is located directly to the east of the Steinkellerhaus.

The Schlerihaus belongs to the castle complex of Stachlburg: until the year 2000 it stood ugly and ignored at the edge of Peter-Mitterhof-Platz square. For many years the ground floor had served as stables, and the upper floor as temporary housing for harvest workers. It has since been renovated, and several beautiful frescoes salvaged. The Knights’ Hall (Rittersaal) was built around 1700, as a setting for the landlords to host private parties.

Once every autumn since 2009, the current landlord, the Baron von Kripp, opens his beautiful hall to hold a concert in memory of his ancestor, Johann von Stachl. The concert includes selected early music performed on period instruments, organized in collaboration with the Local Heritage Association (Verein für Heimatpflege) of Partschins/Parcines, the Association of Friends of Stachlburg (Verein Freunde der Stachlburg) and the Tourism Association of Partschins-Rabland.

The interiors cannot be visited!

THALERBÜHEL

There was a sample excavation at the Thalerbühel hill to search for a past hillfort. They found some ceramics, bronze artefacts and burned bones, which indicates that the hill has been a sacrificing place in the first millenium B.C.

Be inspired culinary delights! A visit to the Castle Sichelburg with Mirko Mair is the combination of indulgence and history. Experience the magnificent paneled rooms and the impressive vaults of Sichelburg contemporary cuisine in a historic setting.

The chapel of the castle was dedicated 1474 and renewed in the 17. century.

Coldrano Castle was once the ancestral seat home of Count Hendl and nowadays an educational center. The architectural history of the castle is unable to trace a precise date of its inauguration; however, it is assumed that the palace was built after 1323. Coldrano Castle is a three-wing building with an inner courtyard, which is surrounded by an almost rectangular shaped wall and by rounded corner towers.