Kastelen en paleizen, musea, kunst, historische schatten en hedendaagse locaties. Ook deze attracties en bezienswaardigheden maken deel uit van een geslaagde ontdekkingsreis door Zuid-Tirol.
Built around the year 1000, strictly linked with the history of St. Lorenzen and the central Pustertal.
Nowadays is the Castle Michelsburg privately owned.
The adventure castle lies in a gorge-like valley at the Inn and can be reached on foot or by bike from the main streets in 20 minutes. Originally a customs office, fortified under Duke Sigmund and expanded under Emperor Maximilian to a closed fortress. Aitfinstermünz has been completely restored and is a popular excursion destination with castle tavern, chapel and a playground.
The remarkable Baroque residence of the Barons of Longo dates back to the beginning of the 18th century. It presents a simple façade and a Baroque portal which can be reached through a two-winged staircase. The stone frame of the portal is decorated with two putti and a female bust. The interiors are richly decorated: high reliefs in stucco by Franz Hannibal Bittner and frescoes by Giacomo Antonio Delai, two artists who worked in the Bolzano/Bozen area from 1730. The palace also includes a unique park that extends to the forest behind the village.
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 most interesting building in Andreas-Hofer-Street from a historical point of view is surely the "Ballhaus." This construction functioned as a warehouse and repository for goods passing through Neumarkt/Egna, which, by disposition of the reigning sovereign Duke Otto, were obliged to pay duty and remain there for a night. Above the semi-circular stone framed arch of the portal, the erroneous date of 1372 appears along with the Egna coat of arms. In fact, the Ballhaus was built some 150 years later. You could say that the Ballhaus is the symbol of the privileges which Egna enjoyed until the 18th century and which permitted it to develop into the great and beautiful village we know today. Currently, following very careful restoration, this building is the site of the community library for the German-speaking population, the "Bibliothek im Ballhaus."
The ruins of Stein Castle at Renon are located below Siffiano between Collalbo and Auna di Sotto. The few imposing remains of the castle ruins rise on an isolated rock above a gorge that drops from Renon into Valle Isarco. Only the south and west walls of the palace remained, the ring walls of the lower situated outer castle have largely fallen into the depths. In the first half of the 13th century, the complex was built by the Lords "de Lapide" (to the stone), destroyed in 1349, then rebuilt and abandoned in the 17th century.
For a long time, the castle, situated on important secondary connections, served as the court seat of Renon. In the 15th century, the Tyrolean sovereigns commissioned a court judge, such as the Bolzano noblewoman Ingenuin ofWeineck as "phleger auf dem Stain" in 1417.
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.
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.
Castle Sprechenstein is a castle located in the municipality of Campo di Trens in Sout Tyrol. The castle is located in a higher position than Reifenstein Castle to the southeast of Sterzing; it belonged to the Trautson family and is made up of a lower fortress and an upper keep and palace. It has been restored a number of times. A document dating 1241 speaks of the re-built castle. In 1775 the castle was inherited by the Auersperg family. During the Second World War it was seriously damaged by bombing, but thanks to the owners and the superintendence for the historical and artistic heritage of Trento, it was later restored meticulously.
The castle can be visited only from outside.
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.
In the fullness of the Überetscher countryside, high among the vineyards and orchards, lies the magnificent mansion of the 15th Century overlooking the idyllic Adige valley. For over 50 years in private property. Since 2022, it has been run, like Castle Freudenstein , by Mrs Karoline Fink and her son Peter Gostner.The place is made for celebrations, which is why the Ansitz Zinnenberg is mainly used for weddings, company parties, Törggelen and other festivities. We will make your celebration an unforgettable event, with all the trimmings: decoration, cuisine and organisation.
Ansitz Zinnenberg is also a hotel with five suites; a special, private retreat. Please feel free to contact us for further information.
The History of Commandery Longomoso - a rural branch of the Teutonic Order - is closely related to the hospice, which was built in the year 1200, when the road to cross the Alps led across the Renon. The hospice was used as accommodation for travelers, for changing horses, to care for the sick. The present form of the building as a mighty wall cube with a pyramid roof was built c.1650. The magnificent "Reiteröfen" (fireplaces) in the state rooms are witnesses of domestic potter art. Worth seeing are the stucco ceiling and wallpaper with biblical scenes and episodes from the history of the Teutonic Order. Today the Commandery is the beaming cultural center for the whole Renon. The Board of Trustees of the Commandery Longomoso operates a varied program of events.
You will soon find more information about the Koflmühle in Prissian/Prissiano here
The “Schwarzer Adler'' Inn dates back to the 15th century. It was the largest and most solid inn in Salorno/Salurn, located at the most important crossroads of the time. It was equipped with a parlour that exerted great attraction on passers-by and villagers and knew how to maintain itself as an inn best and longest. This large inn, once owned by various noble families, later fell to merchants and the bourgeoisie and was eventually divided among various owners: in 1500 it was the Rölls, 1600-1680 the Lansers, between 1680 and 1700 Andrä Nagele, who sold his property to Peter Tolloy, who in turn ceded it to Baron J. F. von Coret. In 1801 the inn was acquired by the Tschurtschenthaler family, who sold it in 1825 to Anton von Gelmini and Anton von Vilas. In 1833 the inn fell into the hands of the Petermair family. With the construction of the railway (1859), however, there was a drastic decline in the number of guests. From that time on, the inn's activities were almost exclusively limited to guests from the village.
Remarkable is the magnificent black eagle made of wrought iron, which has been preserved to this day in the same place above the old post road and reminds us of the old name and the centuries-old hospitality business that was practised there. The "Black Eagle" proved to be the most frequented inn in the village at that time.
The Hausmann-Locherer estate dates from the Renaissance period, was built in the second half of the 16th century and is characterised by architectural elements of Nordic and Italian origin that are typical of the Überetsch/Oltradige architectural style. Architrave-shaped windows and an entrance portal with a round arch decorate the façade of the building. Above this round arch is the coat of arms of Andrä Locherer from 1593, consisting of a unicorn standing on its hind legs. The interior rooms with their central hall are arranged symmetrically. Some rooms have stuccoed ceilings, others are covered with 17th century woodcarving decorations. The entire building encloses an inner courtyard.
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.
Barns and other farm outbuildings covered with thatched roofs have always been a distinctive characteristic of the villages of Hafling/Avelengo and Vöran/Verano.
A few examples of this archaic architectural construction can still be seen while hiking, including at the Spitzegger Farmstead in Vöran and at Gfrar in Aschl/Eschio.
Mounting thatched roofs such as these requires a lot of work and skill on the part of the Strohdecker, or roofer. The Strohdecker must bind the straw—usually rye but wheat is also used—on mild winter days into bundles about the diameter of an arm, called Dachschab. A piece of the roof is repaired every year; in this way, the whole layer of straw is completely replaced every twenty years or so.
As Richard Furggler wrote in his compendium entitled Tschögglberg: "The most striking feature of the folkloristic peculiarities of high plateau is—actually, one must almost say ‘was’—the majestic thatched roofs on the farm buildings."
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 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.
Nestled in the historic Steinach district of Merano, the Passirio Gate – also referred to as the “Pseirer Gate,” named after the German term for the Passeiertal Valley – is a striking remnant of the city’s medieval fortifications. This stone tower marked the northern boundary of the old city wall and functioned as both a defensive structure and a checkpoint for trade and travelers entering from the Passeiertal Valley. Of the original four city gates, three remain today. The fourth, the Ultimo Gate, once located on Freiheitsstraße street and later rebuilt farther west, was demolished in 1884.
Characterized by its slim, tower-like form, the Passirio Gate rises over three stories and features small windows and a steep gabled roof. A pointed arch forms the entrance, while the southern interior wall is adorned with a fresco of the red Tyrolean eagle – a powerful symbol of Merano’s historical ties to the County of Tyrol.
In the Middle Ages, the gate played a vital role, as it guarded access to major trade routes over the Timmelsjoch and Jaufen Pass passes. Because the valley floor was largely marshland, merchants and travelers used mountain routes to reach the Ötztal in North Tyrol and continue on to Innsbruck. The gate thus became a strategic point in the flow of goods and people.
Today, the Passirio Gate serves as a picturesque starting point for scenic walks, such as the popular Tappeiner Promenade, which offers sweeping views over the city. Just a short stroll away are other cultural highlights, including the Palais Mamming Museum, the Powder Tower, and the St. Barbara Chapel.
A visit to the Passirio Gate is more than just a glimpse into medieval architecture – it’s an invitation to explore Merano’s rich past and vibrant cultural tapestry.
The former Holz Castle, which is mentioned in 1236, has only a few ruined walls. It is located above Prissian in a forested area.
The most interesting part of the façade of the “von Lutterotti” estate, a 17th century Baroque building, is probably the portal. It is framed by two half-columns with capitals and scroll and smooth and broken headstones. This is the magnificent archway of the court and prison building of the former Salorno/Salurn jurisdiction. The seat is adorned by three wrought-iron balconies. The hall on the first floor is decorated with stucco work. After the building was no longer used as a seat of jurisdiction, it passed to the namesake Lutterotti family from Salurn.
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.
The first written testimony of Moos Castle in Wiesen is dated 1325. In 1950 the South Tyrol Winegrowers Association purchased the castle and restored it. Since then it has been used as a retirement home for the elderly. The first written testimony of Moos Castle in Wiesen is dated 1325. It was then owned by the Trautson family, although it changed hands many times in later years. We owe the current state of the castle to the restoration commissioned by Christoph Geizkofler in around 1600. Moos Castle is not one of the classical castles of the Tyrolean highlands; it was rather effectively defended by the "Sterzinger Moos" [Swamp of Sterzing], which extended to the east until it reached Wiesen. In the XIX century the condition of the building was cause for concern. In 1950 the South Tyrol Winegrowers Association purchased the castle and restored it, without changing its original character. Since then it has been used as a retirement home for the elderly. Wiesenheim Palace, which is now the City Hall, stands beside the castle, with its distinctive corner tower and bow window. In the surrounding area there are many such palaces, which once belonged to ancient guilds and owners of customs rights.
Furstenburg Castle in Burgeis/ Burgusio is a fortress erected in the 13th century on behalf of the Bishop Conrad of Chur (1272 - 1282). In the 16th and 17th centuries A.D. it was however restructured according to the style of the time. The oldest part of the castle is the tower which displays walls of a three meters thick diameter.
In 1996, the tower collapsed and was subsequently extended by the then director Georg Flora. Today, the Fürstenburg is home to a technical school for agriculture and forestry.
Visits only possible with a guided tour between 03 July and 28 August (German or Italian language).
Information: +39 0473 831190
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