Bezienswaardig Zuid-Tirol

The mighty buildings of Castle Schenna just above the city of Meran are still partly surrounded by a moat. Using the bridge, you will come to the entrance of Castle Schenna and from there, if you pass the dungeon, you’ll arrive in the courtyard. An open staircase will lead you to the castle chambers. Castle Schenna in South Tyrol is open for guided tours. Only the wing containing the private rooms of the count’s family remains closed to the public. The halls and grand chambers are home to a painting and portrait gallery, a weapons collection, as well as numerous art-historic objects of Tyrolean history.

Guided tours:
Tuesday to Friday at 11.30 a.m. and 3.00 p.m. and every Monday and Thursday guided evening tours at 9 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday closed.

Online registration required:
https://www.schloss-schenna.com/anmeldung-fuehrungen-831191.html

Medieval winery and estate on the Kiechelberg hill which, together with the associated Church of St. Daniel, was until 1785 in the possession of the Benedictine Sonnenburg Abbey in the Puster Valley. The free-standing farm building dates back to the late Middle Ages and the Gothic style of the 15th century.

The medieval core, near the Kirchplatz, was rebuilt and considerably altered in the late-Gothic and Renaissance eras of the 16th and 17th centuries. Original staircase as well as rib-vaulted hall. The remains of late-Gothic murals from the early 16th century were uncovered on the second floor.

The Fahlburg Castle, originally „Tower of Vall“, was built during the 13th Century and owned by the Lords von Zobel. After the extinction of this family, there were some disputes over its ownership amongst the heirs. It is said that the minnesinger Oswald von Wolkenstein was kept captive by Barbara Jäger in the „Vall“, where he wrote songs and lamented bitterly about the tortures. In 1597, Jakob Andrä von Brandis bought the „Fahlburg“. The re-building work for changing the fortress into a Renaissance castle finished in 1640. Today, it is owned by Count Jakob von Brandis, a descendant of the dynasty of the counts von Brandis. The castle still hosts old tiled stoves, wooden ceilings and paintings by the Barouque painter Stefan Kessler. The castle‘s chapel has two levels and the sanctuary is consecrated. Today, events such asweddings, conferences, concerts etc. are arranged.

After over 400 years in family ownership, the castle was sold to the Athesia Group in 2021, whose founder in South Tyrol, Canon Michael Gamper, was born and raised in the immediate vicinity. The castle has been carefully restored since 2023.

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.

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.

High above Nals, on a rocky mountain ledge at the edge of the Sirmian river canyon, you find the ruins of Castle Payersberg. The castle was built during the first 30 years of the 13th Century by the Payr family, ministerial officers of the Counts of Eppan. The rectangular, four-storey high building had its entrance at the second floor. A staircase led to the third floor, which was used as living quarters. It had a four metre wide window and a fireplace with a drop-like mantle-piece that kept the room warm. From here, it was possible to enter the wooden military area, which protected the castle, through a wooden door. Towards the East, you will find the remains of a Late-Gothic castle chapel. The fortress was renovated in the 16th Century by the knight Jakob of Boymundt-Payersberg and also received new protective walls at that time. An entry towards the North was also added, together with a round tower. Above the entrance, they put the coat of arms of the Payersberg family with the year 1560. Back around 1600, when Marx Sittich of Wolkenstein described the area, he mentioned that the Payersberg was already in ruins and could no longer be inhabited. Most likely, it was the neglect of this building, which brought about the building of Castle Schwanburg in Nals, which was far more suitable for the owners to live in. Until the decline of the Courts of Payersberg in 1791, the castle stayed in their ownership. Today, the Malpaga family uses the building as their main residence, as well as a workplace for the adjacent farmhouse. In Obersirmian, just beside the Rainerhof farmhouse, which is the highest situated farmhouse found in the village of Nals, you will come across a tower-like building, which differs substantially from the surrounding farmhouses and presents itself more like a knight's fortress. This is the so-called Jagdturm (lit: hunting tower), which was used by the Counts of Payersberg during the hunting season and hot summers. The unique tower of Castle Payrsberg, which can be seen from afar and which is used as a landmark in the village, is part of the Nals village logo.

Castle Payersberg was renovated in 2024 and since then it offers a first-class location for unforgettable moments. The newly designed venue with its breathtaking views is ideal for a variety of occasions, like weddings, concerts, company celebrations, birthdays or conferences.

From a medieval core, remodelled in the 17th century during the Renaissance, a pointed-arch courtyard gate with stone surround and family crest leads onto the street. The stone archway features the letter "A" with an arrow as a bar. Above the front door is a coat of arms in stone consisting of three wavelike curving lines and the initials "L.H.". The ribbed vault and shouldered-arch doors date from 1500; the stone-framed rectangular and double-arched windows, as well as a bay on the façade, are from the 17th century.

The “zur Goldenen Krone” Inn dates from the 14th century and had a long row of spacious arcades supported on massive stone blocks. The entrance to the inner courtyard of the inn dates from the 17th century. The year 1650 is engraved in the key. The farm was ceded by the Lichtenstein family to the monastery of St. Michele all’Adige in 1470. In the 16th century, the Perkmanns were mostly the owners or rather leaseholders of the house, in the 17th century the Feigenputz and the Röll, Traxl and Lutterotti in the 18th century. It was considered the best inn between Bolzano and Trento and had a wealthy clientele. Despite decay in the previous two centuries, ownership of the building passed to the Mutschlechner family in 1811, who used it not only as an inn, but also for retail trade, horse-drawn carriage hire, a distillery and a butcher's shop.

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 Gasthof zur Rose is located in the southern quarter of Salorno/Salurn, which is called "Gries". The first references with a description of the Gasthof "Zur Rose" go back to the year 1584.

Three-storey building in neo-Romanesque style; adjacent park with high trees. Single-run outside staircase to the first floor on the northwest side of the palazzo-like main building, with corner pilaster strips to the side, topped with a small turret. An aedicule with the Queen of the Rosary faces the main street. The courtyard entrance features portal pillars in the Mannerist style dating from 1612.

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.

 

The “Liebenstein” estate with its Maria-Hilf fresco dates back to the 16th century. In the first documents it is referred to as "Hof der Plattner genannt Röll". At the beginning of the 18th century, the two original buildings were combined into a single complex and given the name "Ansitz Liebenstein". The An der Lan family were the last noble owners of the house.

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 ruins of the two castles Rotund and Reichenberg are clearly visible from the village of Taufers in the Münstertal. Rotund Castle is located at an altitude of 1500 metres, making it one of the highest castles in Tyrol. It was built around 900 by order of the bishops of Chur. The castle changed hands several times over the centuries before it was abandoned at the end of the 17th century and left to decay. Below Rotund is Reichenberg Castle. Originally, Reichenberg Castle was owned by the bishops of Chur, but in the middle of the 12th century it fell into the hands of the robber baron, Lord of Reichenberg, who spread fear and terror. At the end of the 17th century, this castle was also abandoned. Today, the ruins of both estates can be visited.

Since 2011 the Schluderns Gate Tower in Glurns hosts a permanent exhibition concerning the history of this little medieval town, such as trade, customs, daily life and curiosities.

Complex of residential and farm buildings on the Wasserfallstrasse and the St. Kolumbangasse, arranged at an acute angle and grouped around a courtyard. Its core is located at the intersection of the two roads; it was expanded in the early 17th century, during the Renaissance, as indicated by the stone-framed courtyard gate with the monogram “Hans Pock” and the date 1626: the year 1620 could once be read on a double-arched window.

The stone-framed round-arched portal opens towards Goethe Street on the west side of the An der Lan estate, a Renaissance building from the 16th century. Above it you find the beautiful double-arched windows. The south façade is adorned by a belt cornice and large rectangular windows set in stone with wrought-iron grilles. Inside, the central halls have vaulted ceilings, with the wood-panelled room on the first floor a testament to expert woodcarving and inspired by the Renaissance style. In 1817, the building was acquired by the Gelmini zu Kreuzhof family.

Above Schluderns in the sunny Vinschgau, towers the Churburg, one of the best preserved castles of South Tyrol. Today’s visitors find an impressive Renaissance castle, enhanced by the remarkable paintings in the arcades surrounding the courtyard. Many precious objects are to be seen in the Romanic chapel, the Matscher chamber and other splendid rooms. The world renowned armoury contains the largest collection of its kind. The harnesses, all made for members of the family, are of incomparable artistic and historic value.

Visits are only possible with a guided tour!
Guided tours in English on request: +39 0473 61 52 41

Churburg Castle is closed from the beginning of November to the end of March.

You will soon find more information about the Almshouse in Tisens/Tesimo here

The Gelmini estate was built in the first half of the 17th century. It belonged to the An der Lan and Fedrigotti families and to the Gelmini family. The three-storey building has a beautiful garden and several courtyards leading to the service buildings. Another interesting feature is the oriel with turrets and ox-eyes in the upper part of the façade, located on Schillerstrasse. The building is decorated with a mosaic created in 1911 depicting a Virgin and Child inspired by Raphael's Renaissance Madonna. Particularly worth seeing are the coffered ceiling in the wood-panelled oriel room, which dates from 1661, and the carved wooden walls, which run in two vertical strips and are separated by refined half-columns. Dr. Max von Gelmini was one of the largest silkworm breeders in South Tyrol. He built the so-called "silk spinning mill", one of the most important examples of industrial architecture in the entire country.

 

The ruin Kaldiff is locaded at Mazzon, above Egna . This castle was probably built around 1200. Between the 16th and 18th century it was inhabited by the noble family Von Enn. However, unfortunately it decayed partially after a fire. Today, after remediation work, there are only remains of curtain-walls as well as some frescoes and mural paintings available.

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 „Wohlgemuth zu Wendelstein“ estate dates back to 1592. The date is above the portal in the fresco of the triangular pediment on the double-arched window, which is adorned by a beautiful wrought-iron balustrade. The Renaissance building has an irregular floor plan and is set around an inner courtyard. The hall on the first floor with the aforementioned double-arched window has a precious coffered ceiling.

At the church square, a medieval village castle rises majestically. This castle received its present form around 1600. Auer Castle is said to have been the ancestral seat of the Lords of Auer/Ora, who were first mentioned in 1190 as "Conradinus de Aura de masnada filiorum Enrici de Egna." In documents, the castle was also called the "Gesäss," as it housed, among other things, the official residence of the sovereigns. In the 19th century, the von Fioreschy family took over the property and gave it its present name: Von Fioreschy estate. In 2014, the estate underwent extensive renovations.

The Plawenn Manor, which is located in the Mals fraction of the same name, was previously a residential tower and its history dates back to the 12th century. Over the centuries, the building has witnessed many stories and has seen many people come and go. The manor is still owned by the Count of Plawenn. 

The manor can be visited on request from June to mid-August!

Structure on the Kirchplatz marked by late-Gothic and Renaissance influences. Stone bench along the
façade facing the square with 17th-century wrought-iron window grilles on the upper floor. Courtyard wall
to the west with merlons and integrated portal with plastic sandstone framework. Jambs decorated with
scrollwork surround a blazon featuring pretzels and waterwheel on the door lintel in reference to the mill
and bakery that once existed here.
The former princely fief with its press for tithe wine once belonged to Castle Auer opposite.

1327 House near the Chapel of Santa Caterina - domus S. Katerina

1600 Thomas Frank of Frankenberg

1618 Erhardt Kurz, Pollinger in Untermais, husband of Caterina of Frankenberg, sells the "Gurtsche Behausung"

1692 Josef Frank of Frankenberg sells the Gurten farm in 1694 to the farmer Rösch Josef Knoll, which then remains in family ownership for 190 years

1884 the Reverend Alois Partolli hands over the property in 1900 to the adoptive daughter Christine Nellböck and her husband Josef Lochmann

1927 Maria Lochmann and her husband Alois Knoll, son of Röschen

1991-2000 Erich and Sabine Knoll restore the protected property


Building description:

Romanesque arch windows of the Chapel of Santa Caterina in the former agricultural building
Living room with late Gothic beam ceiling and Renaissance stove from 1688 Paneled and stucco ceilings Painted corner quoining - fresco angel with crown from the 17th century

Castel Lebenberg is one of the most beautiful castles in Burggrafenamt, built in the 13th century. By the lords of Marling. Very extensive castle complex of late gothic castle chapel with valuable frescoes including some from the 14th century. Picturesque courtyards, French Ornamental Garden, Hall of Mirrors in the rococo style and knights hall with a large figure pedigree of the Counts of Fuchs, 1426 to its extinction in 1828 the owner of the castle, now since 1925 in the possession of the van Rossem van Sinoutskerke family, Farmer room with Gothic farm furniture and armory.

Above the village of Tscherms towers one of the most beautiful castles of the area: Castel Lebenberg. The landmark of Tscherms is visible from far away and enthroned on a moraine hill. It offers a beautiful view over the Etsch Valley.

The castle was built by the Masters of Marling, which then called themselves the Masters of Lebenberg. Later the Fuchs von Fuchsberg Family gained possession of the castle for nearly 400 years. Nowadays Castle Lebenberg is privately owned and the owners live here full time. Guided tours allow visitors to experience this architectural example of times long gone.

The well preserved castle has a lot to offer for visitors who are interested in arts and history: The 3 story chapel from the 14th century, romantic inner courtyards, a French flower garden, the hall of mirrors in Rococo style, an armoury as well as fully furnished rooms from various epochs and farmers rooms with gothic farmer's furniture are among the many things to see.

Lovers of medieval murals will enjoy the precious gothic frescos which have only recently been discovered.

The imposing complex of buildings from the 13th century is fully preserved to this day and can be visited daily.