Alle forten en kastelen

Families which have owned the same land for more than 200 years are awarded a "Deed of inheritance" by the Province of Bolzano-South Tyrol. The Nagler family has been honoured in this way.

The original name was "Murin da Coz" because grain from the Coz farm was milled ("murin" means mill in Ladin) here. The oldest written documents mention Hof Palua (The Palua farm) in about 1566, Pares in 1780 and finally Murin. The first settlement can be dated 1296; the saw and the grain mill probably needed water power. In 1771 the "Brochia" family from Longiarü settled here. In common with many other family names in Val Badia, "Brochia" was reinvented in German, in this case, as "Nagler".

In those days, priests - as well judges - came from places outside Ladinia and they could not speak Ladin which led them to renaming their family names; most written documents were set out in German or Italian. Before 1800 the Ladin language was used relatively rarely in written documents.

Now the Murin farm is private and can be visited outside doing the culture trail in Badia.

In 2022, on the initiative of the meditation group of La Val, and under the direction of labyrinth expert Gernot Candolini, a labyrinth was built in the centre of the area occupied by the former church of San Genesio. It is a simple Gothic labyrinth, consisting of five paths traced with brook stones. Many things here in Dlijia vedla remind us of the transience of life: the remains of the old church walls, the abandoned cemetery.

Memento mori - Memento vivere!

Everything passes quickly, and the moment never stops. So be present and aware, enjoy the view, feel the hope that lurks in life, let yourself be inspired and blessed by goodness and change.

"This place here is a place of power, you must make use of it" Dr. Karl Gruber, Regional Conservator

                                

The "Ciasanöia" is the old tavern and was an important meeting point for the residents of Badia.

It is similar to a castel and was built in 1614 for the nuns of Sonnenburg (Castel near Brunico). It was the seat of this Domination.

Today the house is privately owned and not open to the public.

An old villa, a lush park, and stories waiting beneath the surface – Villa Freischütz in Merano is more than just a museum. It’s a place of memory, a lens into a time often overlooked in South Tyrol: the interwar years. Built in 1909 as a summer residence, the villa bore witness to Merano’s golden age as a spa destination. But what makes its collection truly unique is its authenticity: the legacy of the von Franz Fromm family, who lived in the house for nearly a century. Here, history isn’t pieced together from textbooks. It lives in the furniture, the photographs, the clothing, the handwritten notes. It tells of a world in transition – of monarchy fading, Italian rule emerging, and a society caught between tradition and change.
Exciting Insights:
• The collection features more than 10,000 original objects – many of them carefully arranged throughout the house to evoke the feel of a lived-in home.
• The villa offers intimate “living room tours”: guests can wander freely through parlors, studies, and bedrooms, guided by the personal stories behind the objects.
• A highlight: the expansive park with towering old trees and hidden sculptures – perfect for reflecting after a journey through time.
For culture lovers, Villa Freischütz offers a different perspective on Merano. Not just as a refined spa town, but as a mirror of social and political transformation. The museum’s concept is intentionally personal: there are no long-winded wall texts or physical barriers. Instead, letters, accessories, and household items speak for themselves – sometimes quietly, sometimes disarmingly direct. Among jazz records and Art Nouveau vases, patriotic postcards and delicate diary entries, a rich mosaic unfolds – layered, complex, and deeply human.
This is no conventional museum. It’s a home that invites exploration, reflection, and conversation. And that’s precisely what makes Villa Freischütz one of the most fascinating places for those who don’t just want to study history – but truly feel it.

The castle chapel of Hocheppan with its roman frescos is one of the most important roman art monuments in South Tyrol. The centuries old frescos had been painted over and were only entirely laid open in 1926. Besides religious themes, the hunting scene on the exterior wall can be seen as one of the rarest profane depictions in Tyrol dating from this time period. The wall paintings originate from the first decade of the 13th century and show famous illustrations like the foolish virgins, the dumpling eater - the first proof for Tyrolean dumplings - and the picture of 'Maria Heimsuchung' which is well known far beyond the border of South Tyrol.

In the vibrant heart of Merano, at the corner of Laubengasse and Galileistraße streets, rises the stately Merano Town Hall – a building that bridges political history and modernist design. Constructed between 1929 and 1932 based on plans by architect Ettore Sottsass Sr., the new Town Hall replaced the former municipal building, which had been demolished following Italy’s annexation of South Tyrol after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The structure embodies the ideological and aesthetic language of the fascist era, standing in bold contrast to the medieval character of the old town.
The architecture is marked by the hallmarks of Italian Rationalism: clean, geometric lines, a restrained functionalism, and monumental clarity. Its most defining element is the clock tower, a vertical landmark that shapes Merano’s skyline and opens the view toward the nearby Prince’s Castle. The façade is embellished with sculptural reliefs by Bolzano artist Albert Stolz, illustrating historical scenes and lending the building a sense of cultural gravitas.
Inside, the building continues its architectural narrative with a grand staircase made of fine materials such as marble and terrazzo, where clarity of form and refined surfaces evoke a timeless modernity. The Town Hall maintains a visual dialogue with its historical surroundings and integrates harmoniously into the urban fabric.
More than just the administrative heart of the city, the Merano Town Hall stands as a significant example of modern architecture in South Tyrol. It exemplifies the interplay between historical legacy and forward-thinking design. For lovers of architecture and history alike, it offers a compelling stop: a place to reflect on Merano’s past while admiring the formal language of early 20th-century architecture.

The Coz residence is a short distance away from San Linert. The name "Coz" appears to be of pre-Latin origin and comes from the word "koltju" although we do not know where this word comes from or what it means. This is one of the oldest farms in the area.

The Coz residence we see today was built by the Colz family in 1604. The residential part was renovated in 1996/97. The Colz family sold the farm to the Winkler family from St. Lorenzen in 1695 and they sold it to Jakob Irsara in 1754 and his family still own the farm.

The house has a rectangular form and a hipped roof, along with two wings. The decorations in the house chapel are very valuable; built in 1613 we can see scenes from the creation, the life of Moses, the Crucifixion and the copper snake. On the external wall we can see two saints; St. Christopher and St. Florian.

In addition to the living quarters there are also smaller buildings such as the corn silo, the smithy and the fodder store.

The Coz residence is now a private dwelling and can be seen from outside on the route of the Badia culture trail.

Sompunt is located between Badia and La Villa and was an important residence for the families Mayrhofen and Koburg (rich families in the 19th century).
The house was already mentioned in the year 1296 and it is painted with decorations dating back to the 16th century.

Today the house is privately owned and inhabited.

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 Rio Pusteria Fortress can be found at the entrance to the Val Pusteria, between the villages of Rio Pusteria and Vandoies. The fortress is directly located along the main road, also the Pusterbike Cycle Route runs past this impressive place of interest. Exactly in this place, the borderline between the countships of Goerz and Tyrol ran in 1271. For this reason Meinhard, Duke of Carinthia, had a dam built, that is to say the castle-like Rio Pusteria Fortress.

Actually the original building was located 600 m in the west of the present-day location and consisted of a long-drawn-out barrage as well as two turrets. The ancient fortress was built according to the model of Mediaeval dam. The construction material consisted of natural and homogeneously-sized river stones, which were hardly modified. The last documents regarding this building are dated 1340.

The newly-built construction, that is by the way preserved still today, bears the hallmarks of Sigismund, Archduke of Austria. The fortress is decorated by round turrets, while a dam stretches up the forested slope. In fact, the Rio Pusteria Fortress not only used to be a toll station, but was also residential building and dam. The building can be visited in a guided tour in summer months.

Colz Castle, also called Rubatsch Residence, is a massive building, which boasts a curtain wall with four round towers and many embrasures.

The castle dates back to the year 1536, when Ferdinand I allowed Hans von Rubatsch to build himself a residence. At the end of the 16th century the castle entered into the possession of the Lords of Colz. In the course of time, the building served many functions, like the one of a poorhouse. Finally, it entered into the possession of a farmer’s family.

Colz Castle gained some popularity thanks to the knight Franz Wilhelm Prack zu Asch, also called “Gran Bracun“, who lived in the Ladin valleys between 1573 and 1581 and was known for his cruel but heroic battles.

Finally, Colz Castle was restored. Today it is private. 

The hamlets are farming communities spread over the slopes of Val Badia at an altitude of between 1200 and 1700 metres.

They differ from typical farms in the rest of South Tyrol in their concentrated form as well as their basic structure and administration.

The space under the bridge leading to the barn and the paths that link everything together belong to all the farmers in the hamlet.
The surrounding field are divided so that each family can earn a living.

The farm houses are located one next to the other in the hamlets and next to them the fodder stores, the corn silo, the wood shed, the well and a small chapel.

If we take the path above the Church in Badia, after about half an hour, we arrive at a junction; one road leads to Valgiarëi and the other to Sotciastel. The name of this farm is easy to  explain; the Ciastel farm is further above. As is the case in many other places the name of the settlement below is given with the preposition "sot" (below).

In the 1980s Sotciastel became famous as the result of research carried out by the University of Trento in cooperation with the Provincial Monument Office and the Ladin Cultural Institute "Micurá de Rü". These excavations proved that a Bronze Age settlement including permanent living quarters once stood here. The kind of articles found - parts of weaving looms, kitchen implements, agricultural tools, jewellery, pins and awls - lead us to believe that the settlement was agricultural and pastoral, was inhabited the whole year round and that above all sheep, goats, oxen and cattle were reared.

The settlement in Sotciastel appears to have been one of the first in the valley where people lived for a longer period of time.