Wszystkie forty i zamki

The arcades of Merano are not just a piece of history but a living part of the city. Built in the 13th century by Meinhard II as a commercial route linking Piazza del Grano and Piazza Duomo, they once served as the beating heart of Merano. With over 400 metres in length, they are the longest arcades in South Tyrol, and today they blend tradition and modernity.

The arcades offer a fascinating architectural experience, taking you from Gothic to neoclassical façades. Their winding alleys, steep stairs, and shaded arches tell stories of times gone by. Beneath the arches, where lively trade once took place, you'll now find charming shops, cosy cafés, and historical buildings.

The distinction between the mountain and water arcades, combined with the perfect blend of historical and modern elements, gives the arcades a unique charm. Strolling through the Laubengasse feels like a journey into the past – yet remains vibrant and contemporary.

The upper Portici arcades are wheelchair and pushchair accessible. The path has a slight incline (rise) from piazza del Grano square towards piazza Duomo square.

There is no tactile guidance system or other aids for blind people under the arcades.

The former Holz Castle, which is mentioned in 1236, has only a few ruined walls. It is located above Prissian in a forested area.

Naudersberg Castle was built in 1330 on behalf of the prince and served as a base and was the seat of a court. In 1499 the castle was stormed and lit. After the partition of Tyrol in 1919, the court was dissolved. Naudersberg Castle is now private property and includes a museum.

 

“It is wonderful here and definitely invigorates soul and body....” so wrote Mahler during his summer stay in Toblach.

During the sommermonth between 1908-1910 Gustav Mahler composed some of his most famous works in this simple wooden cabin in the heart of the Dolomites: the 9th and 10th symphonies and the "Lied von der Erde".

“How can people forever think,” cried Mahler “that Nature lies on the surface! Of course it does, in its most superficial aspect. But those who, in the face of Nature, are not overwhelmed with awe at its infinite mystery, its divinity (we can only sense it, not comprehend or penetrate it) -- these people have not come close to it. […] And in every work of art, which should be a reflection of Nature, there must be a trace of this infinity.”

More informations about composing house
https://youtu.be/E82lce0YJIM

Information and requests for further visits: mahlertoblach@gmail.com

In his honour the town organises the annual Gustav Mahler Music Weeks, when the most famous and beautiful pieces by this famous composer are played.

Castle basket ( Italian Castel Corba ) is a castle west of Bolzano in Appiano district Missian in South Tyrol. It is located below the castle ruins Boymont . The square tower house was from 1230 to 1235 , built by the Lords of basket, ministry officials of the Counts of Appiano . From the 14th century it was a fief in the hands of various Tyrolean noble families (including the fox Fuchsberg and Fieger , 1637 ) . The merchant Johann cleaner Reibegg of 1834 prompted a castle-like , romanticized conversion to a winning with decorative pinnacles housing and the construction of the chapel. [1 ] The crenellated tower house is now covered with a pyramidal roof . Are coupled Romanesque double windows on the sides. In 1877, the native of Greifswald Teßmann family acquired the property . Their son Friedrich Tessman was born at Castle basket and was a noted jurist and historian Tyrol. According to him, the State Library was named in Bolzano.

The Witches’ Benches The resting place of the Sciliar/Schlern witches on the Bullaccia/Puflatsch mountain is a truly mythical location. Starting point: Alpe di Siusi/Seiser Alm

The Zwingenburg Castle it is situated above Prissiano. Zwingenburg Castle was first mentioned in 1237. In 1274, the sovereign Meinhard II bought the castle. Around 1800, already in ruins, it became farming ground. Count von der Schulenburg acquired the ruins and re-build the castle around 1900. Today, it is once again in farming hands.

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.

 

There has always been a fountain on the cathedral square, even more so because the square also was the location of the local cattle markets until 1820. Originally, a fountain was located in front of the Trapp house, which houses the public library today. When the police ordered for two large flowerbeds bounded by wire fences to be laid out on the cathedral square in 1952 to prevent larger groups of people from gathering, a waterspout fountain was erected in the northern flowerbed (pictured). On occasion of the redesign of the cathedral square in 1989, artist Martin Rainer (1923–2012) created the Lebensbrunnen fountain. The bronze pyramid in the marble basin represents the different stages of human life and the circle of life as a spiral which springs from the hand of God and returns to it in the end.

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.

Venezian saw has been built in the  year 1847 and restored to 2003

The Engelrast viewing platform on Puflatsch offers a breathtaking 360° panoramic view of the Alpe di Siusi, the Val Gardena and the Dolomites. The platform is surrounded by a metal plate that gives a detailed description of the fantastic mountain panorama of the entire Alpe di Siusi with Sciliar, Sassolungo and Sassolungo, as well as the surrounding mountain ranges. You can find out which mountains you can see in which direction of the sky and how high the peaks are. A nice detail of this platform is the little angel enthroned above this vantage point. A visit to this magnificent viewpoint with some wooden benches is worthwhile. The Engelrast is located near the mountain station of the Telemix Puflatsch. You can reach the viewing platform on foot from Compatsch on the Alpe di Siusi following hiking trail no. 14 or by taking the Puflatsch cable car.

The City of Artists and Albrecht Dürer
The medieval city, which is surpassed in height by the mighty Sabiona Monastery mountain, proudly calls itself the "City of Dürer." Here, where the city was the scene of intense artistic activity just a hundred years ago, is where Albrecht Dürer stopped during his journey through Italy. He exploited his portrait of the city as a background for an allegorical copper-plate engraving titled "Das Grosse Glück" ("Nemesis").

Today, Klausen is still numbered among the most-beautiful of Italy's ancient cities: Its tower-studded facades, its wide alcove balconies, and the picturesque signs of its old inns and pubs were all that was needed to convince the club "I borghi più belli d'Italia" of its worthiness. And the "Treasure of Loreto" (a singular collection of works of art) in the city museum has got to be seen to be believed.

Although it is not really in the area of the municipality of Kaltern, the ruin Leuchtenburg, which can be reached through a nice walk, belongs to Kaltern's skyline. Built in 1250 by the lords of Rottenburg, it was protected by its location and by an imposing wall. Many castles of the Rottenburgers were honed after their conflict with Duke Friedrich IV of Tyrol in 1410, but the Leuchtenburg passed into the possession of the landlord, who gave it to the respective mainmen of Caldaro. For a long time the Leuchtenburg was also the seat of the judge of Kaltern. In the 17th century the ruin ceased to be used, it was abandoned. Parts of the wall and the palace with frescoes from the 15th century are still well preserved. Always worth seeing: The beautiful view of lake Kaltern from above, the South Tyrolean wine road and the Adige Valley. Perfect location for a picknick.

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

Like the village of Tablà, Stava was also a separate municipality in the past. In 1928 the village was joined with the municipality of Naturno. Today Stava has around 360 inhabitants. Even in the Middle Ages Stava was renowned for its hospitality. There was even a health resort in the "Bad Kochenmoos" inn which provided hospitality to illustrious guests taking a break from the exertions of their travels.

Nestled in the pristine nature of Bad Bergfall, just a few kilometers from the village center, lies one of the region’s most fascinating natural wonders – the sulfur spring. Known for its healing properties, the spring has been valued since the 16th century. The mineral-rich water that bubbles from the spring contains a high sulfur content, traditionally used for treating skin conditions and promoting overall health.

Majestic estate house with imposing residential quarters and adjacent farm wing to the west. Originally owned by the Wohlgemuth family from Planitzing. In 1874 it was acquired by Josef Malfèr and rebuilt.

The front garden and staircase date from this time.

The property was acquired in the interwar years by the merchant Daniel Graiff.

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

Welfenstein is a castle in South Tyrol between Trens and Mauls in the municipality of Freienfeld near Sterzing. It is located in the Wipptal on the orographic left side of the Eisack river.

The castle can be visited only from outside.

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!

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

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.

Around 1200 the ruins of Rasen ( Neurasen und Altrasen ) were habitation and court of the sires of Rasen. 
The Rasun Nuova Castle in Oberrasen is privately owned and belongs to the Burgfrieder farm.

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.

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.

Eines der schönsten Anwesen auf rebbepflanztem Hügel. Beliebter Drehort für Filmszenen. Ehemals einfacher mittelalterlicher Weinhof; Umbau zu einem vornehmen Ansitz im Stilempfinden
der Zeit um 1600 vom Besitzer Elias Leis (Baumeister Luca d’Allio): zwei Ecktürme am Wohntrakt, Freitreppe, Loggia, gewölbte Mittelsäle mit Doppelbogenfenstern. Wegen Überschuldung wurde das Anwesen bald verkauft. Über die Jahrhunderte mehrmals Besitzerwechsel, u. a. Johann Anton Zeffer, der 1641 mit „von Zephyris“ geadelt wurde. Seit dem frühen 19. Jh. im bäuerlichen Besitz.
Die Kapelle mit Fassadenturm ist dem Viehpatron St. Anton Abt geweiht und auf einem mittelalterlichen Kern erbaut, im 17. Jh. erweitert. Die Deckenmalerei, Szenen des Hl. Antonius, stammt von Lukas Plazer (1664).

Birthplace of the famous South Tyrolean composer and provincial director of music Sepp Thaler in the
Oberdorf quarter. Born in Auer in 1901, Thaler, who died in 1982, as a young man worked there as
choirmaster and organist. In 1922 he took over leadership of the local music band, holding the position
for 58 years. After the Second World War, in 1948 Thaler became the musical director of the Association
of South Tyrolean Music Bands and, from 1980, the Association’s honorary musical director.
Thaler composed numerous works for brass instruments and a variety of secular and sacred choral
pieces. A recipient of the Tyrolean Service Cross and other awards, the Sepp Thaler Music School and
the Sepp-Thaler-Weg in the Mitterdorf are named after him.

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.

This year Tyrolean Advent in the Castle will be taking place in the historic ambience of Tyrol Castle for the tenth time. Tyrol Castle provides an atmospheric backdrop for a genuine South Tyrolean Christmas experience. Local exhibitors will present traditional handicrafts such as felting, pottery, turning, spinning, braiding, dyeing and the production of ceramics or jewelry in the castle's rooms.
There will be a well-balanced program of events for visitors every day during Advent in the Castle: whilst crackling fires make for a cozy atmosphere, food stands will offer traditional dishes, baked goods and drinks. The Christmas market will also be attended by choirs and music groups, and there will also be all kinds of entertainment for children.