Category: Castles & palaces

Castle Gandegg | Appiano

How to reach the Castle Gandegg

Castle Gandegg in in the district Pigenò in San Michele | Appiano is a massive appearance. Originally there was an old farm, the Maierhof. In the 15th and 16th century Gandegg Castle was built on the land.
The castle does not correspond so at all to the actual building method of that time. The new aristocratic seats, which were built at this time instead of the fortified castles, replaced the high-lying castles of the aristocratic families. These new aristocratic seats no longer had mountain peace and ring walls. The oriel towers and enclosing walls of Gandegg Castle were also no longer important; they were only intended to have an optical effect and give the building a castle-like appearance.The late medieval residential tower inside the complex was first mentioned in a document around 1434 and was owned by the lords of Annenberg. Under the Counts of Khuen of Belasi, who were lent Gandegg Castle in 1543, a generous extension took place, which gave the castle its present appearance. The neighbouring castle of Englar still belongs to this noble family today.
The main building of Gandegg Castle is surrounded by a large park protected by a high wall, and on the south-western flank the complex is delimited by farm buildings with late-Gothic building elements.
The rooms inside are magnificent, there are numerous halls with coffered ceilings, hinged doors with richly decorated inlays and tiled stoves from the 16th and 17th centuries.

Abbazia di Novacella | Bressanone

How to reach the Abbazia di Novecella

Abbazia di Novacella was founded by the blessed bishop Hartmann in 1142 as an Augustinian monastery. Thanks to its monastery school it became one of the most important centre of education and art. In 1742 the monastery was the largest in Tyrol, the Romanesque abbey church of Abbazia di Novacella was redesigned in Baroque style. Unique at Abbazia di Novacella is the round building of Castello dell’Angelo, former hostel and defence facility. The Gothic cloister benefits from valuable frescoes, while the well in the courtyard depicts the wonders of the world. The 8th wonder is said to be Novacella. The Rococo library in Abbazia di Novacella is uniquely beautiful, the Pinacoteca houses medieval paintings by outstanding masters Michael and Friedrich Pacher and Marx Reichlich. The Turkish wall dates back to turbulent times. The mill, water buildings and wine cellar point to the economic importance of the monastery. The area around Abbazia di Novacella is the northernmost winegrowing region of South Tyrol with the well-known white wines Sylvaner, Müller Thurgau and Kerner.

Opening hours:
Monday – Saturday: 10am – 4pm

Note: Only guided tours.
No guided tours are offered on church holidays.

Price:

Adults 9,00 €
Groups of 10 or more 7,00 €
Children from 6 – 17 years 4,00€

f
Note: Dogs are not allowed on the guided tours. Dogs are also not allowed in the freely accessible cloister.
Photography is allowed outside and in the collegiate church. Please do not take photographs in the rooms.

Contact:
Abbazia di Novacella
Stiftstr. 1
39040 Varna
+39 0472-836189

Castle Trostburg | Ponte Gardena

How to reach castle Trostburg

Castel Trostburg or Castel Forte – “Trostburg” in German -, one of the most splendid castles of South Tyrol, is located on a natural rocky promontory above Ponte Gardena (Waidbruck). The history of the castle dates back to the 12th century – it was mentioned for the first time in 1173 as place of residence of a certain “Cunrat de Trosperch” (Konrad of Trostberg), descending from the Lords of Castelrotto. In 1290, the castle was passed on from the Lords of Velturno to the Lords of Tyrol, who put the castle in pawn. For about 600 years the castle remained in possession of the Earls of Wolkenstein-Trostburg, one of the main nobilities of Tyrol. In those times, the Mediaeval composer and poet Oswald von Wolkenstein grew up here (1377 – 1445).

Between the 14th and the 16th century, the castle was fundamentally enlarged and once more in the 17th century, under Engelhard Dietrich of the nobility Wolkenstein-Trostburg. In 1981, the castle was passed on into the hands of the South Tyrolean Castle Institute and thus was saved from decay. This institution strives for maintaining the special character of the castle and for making it available for public. Since 2005, Castel Trostburg has been hosting the South Tyrolean Castles Museum. Still today it is in a good state thanks to restoration and maintenance works.

There are Roman archways and arched windows, majestic panels and rooms dating back to the 16th and 17th century as well as mouldings of Renaissance in the interior of Castel Trostburg. Worth to be visited are especially the Gothic Stube with panels and richly decorated beam ceiling as well as the library, which is one of the most famous of its day.

Opening hours:
Thursday before Easter until the end of October.
Tuesday – Sunday

Only guided tours

Thursday before easter at 11am, 2 and 3pm
July – August at 10am, 11am, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm
September – end of October at 11am, 2 and 3pm

Reifenstein castle | Campo di Trens

How to reach Reifenstein castle 

Southwest of Vipiteno is Reifenstein Castle on a small rocky outcrop. The castle, which was never destroyed or conquered, is one of the best preserved castles in South Tyrol. Today the castle can be visited from April to early November as part of a guided tour.
In the outer castle at the northern end of the castle complex you can still see a (renewed) portcullis, loopholes and windows as well as battlements. A bridge from the Middle Ages crosses the moat that separates the outer castle from the main castle. While the northern end of the castle, which is more accessible for enemies, was very well protected, there is only a simple ring wall at the southern end. Near the castle there is also the 14th century church of St. Zeno, which cannot be visited.
In the castle you can still see the original medieval rooms, such as the castle kitchen, wooden bunk beds from the 12th century and a bathroom. Particularly beautiful is the so-called Green Hall, whose green walls are decorated with magnificent frescoes. Also worth seeing is the family chapel, which is separated from the living area by an elaborately carved lattice from the late Gothic period.
The castle can only be visited on a guided tour.

Opening hours:
April – October 31 2019
Guioded tours (4 people or more):at 10.30am, 2.00 pm and 3.00pm
July 20 – September 5:
Additional guided tour at 4.00pm
The tour lasts about 1 hour.
Saturdays closed

Price: 

Adults 7,00 €
Children (6 – 13 years) 4,00 €

Contact: 
Reifenstein Castle
Elzenbaum
39049 Campo di Trens
+39 339 2643752

La torre delle polveri | Merano

How to reach the Torre delle polveri 
The best view of Merano! An old keep in which a modern staircase was installed to use it as a viewing platform. A location directly above the parish church on a majestic rock. A view over the whole Burggrafenamt, from the valleys to the highest peaks of Merano.
The Torre delle plover (“Powder Tower”) is rightly considered one of Merano’s most popular sights! The Powder Tower Merano owes its name to the fact that the Meran city fathers, worried about the large amount of gunpowder stored in Meran during the 30-year war, had it stored in the keep of Ortenstein Castle. The castle was demolished, but fortunately the powder tower was not!
Today the tower is accessed by a staircase in its inner courtyard and its viewing platform at a height of 20 metres offers a fabulous view of the centre of Merano and the entire Burgraviate. If you look from the tower towards Passeirer Tor, you will immediately see the well-preserved remains of the old Merano city wall.

Messner Mountain Museum Juval | Kastelbell

How to reach the Messner Mountain Museum Juval

The museum in Juval Castle in Vinschgau is dedicated to the Magic of the Mountain and houses several fine art collections: a Tibetica collection, a gallery of paintings of the world’s holy mountains, a collection of masks from five continents, a unique Gesar of Ling exhibition, a Tantra Room and the Expedition Cellar. Trained guides are available to explain all the exhibits. There is also a small mountain zoo, home-grown produce at the Schlosswirt tavern, excellent wines in Unterortl, and, at the foot of the hill, a farmhouse shop. Juval Castle always makes a big impression in so many ways.

Modern mountaineering is 250 years old. What came before that has not been recorded. But the mountains are millions of years old. They are an aid to orientation for mankind and always have been. They are an expression of everything that lies beyond and requires no justification. For me, the holy mountains came last. The Dolomites, West Alps, Andes, and the Himalayas are stationed along the path of understanding – and the realization that beyond all sheer faces and other challenges there is a dimension that defies quantification! Today the holy mountains are of special interest to me as a researcher and alpinist. I have a particular focus on Milarepa, to whom a separate room is devoted. Having spent almost four decades as a pioneer in rock climbing and high-altitude mountaineering, I am fascinated by those peaks that have special meaning for the local inhabitants, like Mount Kailash in Tibet, Fujiyama in Japan, and Uluru or Ayers Rock in Australia. I have chosen Juval Museum to house the Myth of the Mountain. The castle, perched like an eyrie on a rocky promontory and decorated with frescoes by B. Till Riemenschneider, is well worth a visit itself, and the courtyards and a dozen rooms are open to the public.

Please check this website for detailed information on opening hours and prices.

df

Contact:
Messner Mountain Museum Juval
Juval 3
39025 Naturno
+39 0471 631264

Herbstenburg Castle | Dobbiaco

How to reach Herbstenburg Castle

Near the parish church of Dobbiaco, at about 1,200 m asl., the impressive Herbstenburg Castle is located. Around 1500, the brothers Kaspar and Christoph Herbst acquired the castle and it was named after them. In the 16th century it was completely remodelled. After the Herbst Family extincted, the castle frequently changed hands, today it is in possession of the Earls Bossi-Fedrigotti.

Herbstenburg Castle was the centre of a complex which reached until the red tower in the north-west of the village. An underground tunnel connected the tower with the castle. The vault of the castle housed a prison. In 1508 and 1511, Herbstenberg Castle was the quarter of Emperor Maximilian I von Habsburg.

Inside the Herbstenburg Castle, gorgeous vaults, frescoes and beamed ceilings can be found as well as wonderful bays, crenellations and grilles. The inside of the castle is not open to the public, but it is really worth visiting also from the outside.

Castle Fahlburg | Prissiano

How to reach castle Fahlburg 

The castle’s high-quality facilities, for example the ceiling paintings by the significant Baroque painter Stefan Kessler, and the original Conditions the castle, give the rank of an outstanding artistic historical monument to it.

Also the fact, that the castle is in the family von Brandis’s hands since 400 years, is quite rare.
Out of that is important to notice that the Fahlburg is very special, because of it’s connection to the Cultural History of our Country.

Still today the Fahlburg is still a place where literary and cultural events are held, as the “Petrarca-Preis”-award, testified by Hubert Burda and Peter Handke.
Also the Czech poet and President Vaclav Havel used to stay for a while in this beatiful renaissance-monument.

Contact: 
Fahlburg
39010 Prissiano
+39 0473 92 09 30

Brunnenburg Castle | Tirolo

How to reach the Brunnenburg Castle

Brunnenburg Castle stands on a glacial debris cone between Tirolo and Tyrol Castle. This truly unique-looking castle complex is said to be named after a nearby spring. The fortifications date from between 1241 and 1253. The remains of these fortifications also formed the basis of the restoration of the building. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Brunnenburg was restored in a very unusual manner. Today it is a cultural center and home of the South Tyrolean Agricultural museum.

Although we are mainly an agricultural museum, we also house the Ezra Pound Memorial, a small Egyptian collection and also the Knights’ Hall and the lower part of the castle can be visited.

Opening hours:
April 1st to October 31st:
Sunday to Thursday from 10 am to 5 pm
Friday and Saturday closed

Entry fees:

Adults 6,00 €
Students 3,00 €
Reduced 5,00 €
Children 2,50€
Children under 6 years
 free entry
Groups over 10 persons 4,00€
Surcharge for guided tours (groups and school classes) 2,50€

Contact:
Castle Brunnenburg
Via Ezra Pound  3
39019 Tirolo
+39 0473 923533