Brunnenburg (Italian: Castel Fontana) is a 13th-century castle in the province of South Tyrol, in northern Italy.

History
Schloss Brunnenburg is situated above the city of Merano, on the outskirts of the municipality of Tirol. Originally built circa 1250, the castle was completely restored and updated in the mid-20th century by Boris de Rachewiltz, an Egyptologist, and his wife Mary, daughter of the poet Ezra Pound and violinist Olga Rudge, who have made it their home. Surrounding the castle is the family's vineyard.

Pound stayed with his daughter and her family at the castle in 1958 after he returned from the United States. He wrote the last 6 of his 116 "cantos" of The Cantos.

The Ezra Pound Centre for Literature
"The Ezra Pound Centre for Literature" was established at the castle by his daughter, where students come from all over the world to study the poet's works. A large guesthouse on the castle grounds is used as temporary housing for students, usually for a semester at a time.

Brunnenburg

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Tyrol Castle, less commonly Tirol Castle (Italian: Castel Tirolo, German: Schloss Tirol) is a castle in the comune (municipality) of Tirol near Merano, in the Burggrafenamt district of South Tyrol, Italy. It was the ancestral seat of the Counts of Tyrol and gave the whole Tyrol region its name.
History
The castle hill has been inhabited since ancient times. Several artefacts and one field of graves from the early Middle Ages have been identified. Archeologists have excavated a church with three apses dating from the early Christian period.

The first castle was built before 1100. The second construction phase including the keep dates to 1139/40. A third phase of construction took place in the second half of the 13th century under Count Meinhard II of Gorizia-Tyrol. In 1347 Meinhard's granddaughter Countess Margaret of Tyrol was besieged here by the forces of the Luxembourg king Charles IV. The castle remained the seat of Tyrol's sovereigns until 1420, when the Habsburg archduke Frederick IV moved the administrative seat to Innsbruck north of the Brenner Pass.

In modern times parts of the castle fell into the so-called "Köstengraben", a steep gorge. It was even sold in order to be used as a quarry. In the 19th century the castle was restored; the keep was rebuilt in 1904.

Regarding art history, the frescos of the castle's chapel are of special interest as well as two Romanesque portals with opulent marble sculptures showing legendary creatures, religious themes, and geometric ornaments.

The castle has served as the site of a museum since the early 1980s. Since 2003, Tyrol Castle houses the South Tyrolean Museum of History. Next to the castle there is a falconry with a nursing ward for birds of prey.

Tyrol Castle

Castel Torre (Schloss Thurnstein in tedesco) è un castello medievale che si trova nel comune di Tirolo in Alto Adige.
Cenni storici
Le prime notizie documentate che lo riguardano risalgono al 1276, ma scavi archeologici hanno dimostrato l'esistenza di un castelliere preistorico, segno di una presenza umana molto più antica. All'epoca della sua fondazione, il castello era chiamato Turm auf Platzleid (solo nel 1478 apparirà per la prima volta il toponimo Thurnstein) ed era costituito unicamente da una casatorre.

Nel 1282 fu dato in feudo da Mainardo II a Konrad Milsner. Negli anni successivi il castello sembra essere stato un feudo molto ambito per via della sua posizione e delle sue vigne e le famiglie nobili facevano a gara per poterlo avere.

Solo nel XVI secolo fu costruita l'ala sud addossata alla torre e solo nel 1803 quella nord, che però non fu mai completata.

Nel XVII secolo il castello divenne di proprietà di Alexander von Egen la cui famiglia lo possiede tuttora.

Dalla prima guerra mondiale il castello è adibito a ristorante, tra le cui specialità c'è il "Vino Napoleone". Questo vino, prodotto dalle vigne del castello, prese il nome dell'imperatore Napoleone III quando giunse la notizia della sua cattura durante la battaglia di Sedan nel 1870.

Castel Torre (Merano)

Sigismund, Archduke of Austria, had this modest castle - “Landesfürstliche Burg” in German, “Castello Principesco” in Italian - built in central location of Merano (Meran) in the second half of the 15th century. He probably used this fortress behind the town hall, at the foot of Mt. Benedetto, as his private city residence. However, this ensemble of buildings rather resembles an artistically designed, solid building with low enclosure than a fully-developed castle. For this reason it is simply often referred to as residence. Up to the 16th century the Prince’s Castle remained a royal residence. In 1516, also Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor, resided in the castle.

As the building repeatedly changed hands, it started deteriorating in the course of the centuries. In 1875 finally, the city of Merano purchased the building. Between 1878 and 1880, a restoration period followed, based on the drawings of the internationally famous architect Friedrich von Schmidt, who also directed the renovations of the Dome of Vienna. When these renovations came to an end, the castle was opened also for the public. Today it hosts the Prince’s Castle Museum.

Its wood-panelled ancient parlours, tiled stoves, bedrooms and maiden rooms provide an interesting insight into the life in Mediaeval times. The furniture, however, dates back to the Gothic and Renaissance periods. Also some weapons such as lances and halberds have been preserved. Moreover there is a little chapel decorated with frescoes dating back to the 16th century. And how to reach the Prince’s Castle? It is located in the centre of the spa town, with access from Via Galilei road or from the Arcades of Merano. There are also some parking lots (subject to charge) in the surroundings. 

https://www.suedtirolerland.it

Castello Principesco

San Zeno Castle is located at the entrance of Val Passiria in exposed position.
The rock, called Zenoberg or Mount Zeno, on which San Zeno Castle is located is a strategic point in the municipal area of Tirolo village. Already Romans established a checkpoint to control trade routes, the so called Castrum Majense. In Middle Ages, to the honour of St Zeno, a chaped was established, which used to be a pilgrimage site for a long time.

At the turn of the millennium the religious importance of the chapel diminished, and the building kept deteriorating. So in the 13th century a fortification was built under Meinhard II, who used it as seat for his reign. When Tirolo Castle in 1301 was destroyed by a fire, the seat of the Counts of Tyrol was transferred to San Zeno Castle. In 1347 Charles IV from the House of Luxembourg destroyed the castle and from this point of time it has no longer been rebuilt.

In 1799 Leopold von Braitenberg, owner of the nearby Stemmerhof farm, purchased the castle and provided for its consolidation. Castel San Zeno has only been preserved in its substance, but it cannot be visited.

https://www.meranerland.org

San Zeno Castle

The village of Foresta extends at the southern edge of Lagundo and is famous for its homonymous brewery.
Foresta represents the most southern locality of Lagundo and extends at 320 to 360 m asl. Not only its rural and original character make Foresta worth a visit, but also its brewery, which is also well-known beyond borders.

The Forst brewery, which is by gave the name to the locality, is one of the largest breweries of Italy. Founded in 1857 by the town clerk Franz Tappeiner, today the “Forst” produces seven different types of beer. A stop at the brewery to taste one of the beers produced right in this place is of course a must-do in your holidays, all the same you should pay a visit to the Castel Foresta, where the famous minne singer Oswald von Wolkenstein was kept imprisoned by his mistress Sabina Jäger. Another virtue of Foresta is of course its vicinity to Merano.

https://www.meranerland.org

Castel Foresta 

The history of Castel Scena - or Castel Schenna - in the eponymous village dates back to the 14th century.
A castle was documented at this place already in 1346 AD, but this refers to a forerunner of the building. Only Petermann from Scena, burgrave from Tyrol and minion of Margaret, Countess of Tyrol, had Castel Scena - “Schloss Schenna” in German - built in 1350, the way it appears today. In the years to follow, it repeatedly changed hands. Among the famous owners there were the Lords of Starkenberg, the Counts of Lichtenstein, Frederick “of the Empty Pockets” and Archduke John of Austria. They inhabited Castel Scena and renovated, changed and shaped it.

Nowadays, the Earls of Merano, descendants of Archduke John of Austria, live in and cultivate the castle complex. Via a bridge you can reach the entrance and by passing the oubliette you come to the inner courtyard. In the inside you can admire lordy rooms, a Renaissance hall with faience oven dating back to the 18th century, a painting gallery and a weapons collection dating back to the 12th to the 19th century, as well as the biggest private collection of Andreas Hofer, the famous Tyrolean freedom fighter.

Part of the castle complex are also the Thurnerhof, that’s to say a farmstead and tavern, as well as a mausoleum in neo-Gothic style, in which Archduke John and his family were entombed. This Archduke John Mausoleum is one of the first and most important sacral buildings in neo-Gothic style of the 19th century. It is open to the public. By the way: Castel Scena is one of the fews castles in the surroundings of Merano which has never been abandoned and so it never began to decay. And how to reach Castel Scena? At the nearby mausoleum there is a parking space - the village of Scena (Schenna) is also easily accessible by public means of transport.

https://www.suedtirolerland.it

Castel Scena

Castel Winkel (ted.: Schloss Winkel[1]) è un castello rinascimentale che si trova a Maia Alta, frazione del comune di Merano (BZ).

Nel tardo medioevo era una fattoria della famiglia Winkler. Fu completamente ricostruito da Kasper von Rosenberg nel XVII secolo, nella forma attuale.
La parte più caratteristica del maniero è la torre barocca, sormontata dalla lanterna.
Ebbe poi molti proprietari, tra cui Claudia de' Medici, moglie di Leopoldo V d'Austria, quando era reggente della contea di Tirolo.

Nel 1935 fu acquistato dal trentino Antonio Cembran, che la fece restaurare accuratamente. È ancora di proprietà degli eredi Cembran.

Castel Winkel

In the Vademecum for the Tourist published in Bolzano in 1851, among the noble residences of Merano was Schloss Rundeck, marked as accommodation for foreigners. For Castel Rundegg it is therefore a vocation of ancient date: after the long abandonment that saw it decay in the twentieth century, today this castle has returned to offer hospitality, and of the highest level. And for this the current managers, giving continuity to the tradition, have been able to add a great spirit of initiative and professionalism.

The hotel, the first in Italy to have obtained the name of beauty-farm, is distributed in three connected buildings: the central body of the castle, built according to some sources around 1154 and enlarged in the fifteenth century, the former home of the factor and the former shed, also secular. The renovation wanted to enhance and emphasize the supporting elements of the architecture, such as the lunette ceilings of rooms and lounges, the exposed stone walls, some large original beams of the thirteenth century; antique furniture and tasteful furnishings complete the rooms. Among the rooms available there is spoiled for choice: attic, with terrace or loggia and garden, with Gothic vaults or antique beams, with windows for a panoramic view, or self-sufficient apartments. The beauty-farm, which is a ground floor, is connected to the three structures by a series of steps, which allow guests to comfortably reach the facilities in a bathrobe. Numerous treatments offered between massages, beauty treatments, therapies and spas.

https://www.histouring.com

Castel Rundegg


The first historical records of the Castello Rametz estate began in the 13th century, when it was already mentioned in various documents as an important possession in the field of viticulture.

In fact, already from this period in fact there are flourishing different types of vines thanks to the Mediterranean microclimate, to the soil rich in water and to the shelter given by the marvelous mountains that surround the area.

In 1836 it was bought by Francesco Flarer, a professor at the University of Pavia, who transformed it into his own home; carrying out a radical restoration brought the castle to its current appearance, characterized by towers and Ghibelline battlements.

In 1860 began the cultivation of the best vines for the production of Pinot noir alongside the production of Riesling Renano, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.

This small corner of peace and tranquility also houses a museum dedicated to viticulture, established in 1980 in the cellars of the castle: tools and tools for harvesting, winemaking and transport are displayed in 4 large rooms of the museum, along with ancient equipment for the wheat cultivation and speck production.

Together with experienced sommeliers it is possible to taste the wines produced here and to experience the history of the estate in a comprehensive way with guided food and wine tours.

The restaurant offers the welcoming hospitality of the typical Tyrolean parlor; the cuisine ranges from refined local specialties to international dishes, all naturally accompanied by the quality of the wines of the precious cellar.

https://www.histouring.com

Castel Rametz

Castel Pienzenau (in tedesco Schloss Pienzenau) è un castello che si trova nel quartiere di Maia Alta del comune di Merano in Alto Adige.

I primi documenti scritti riguardanti il castello risalgono al 1394. Fino al XVIII secolo fu utilizzato dai monaci benedettini dell'abbazia di Ettal in Baviera come luogo di riposo e preghiera. Furono loro a trasformare i vasti terreni del castello in un giardino con varie specie vegetali anche rare.

Dopo vari passaggi, il maniero fu acquistato da Paul Kuh-Chrobak, che vi ebbe come ospite anche Richard Strauss. Nel 1969 divenne di proprietà della famiglia Schölzhorn che lo rinnovò completamente.

Oggi il castello è adibito ad albergo e vi si svolgono anche matrimoni e altre manifestazioni.