The romantic ruin of Castel Rafenstein rises high above the city of Bolzano at the entrance of the Val Sarentino valley.
On a rocky hill high above the Talvera Gorge, at the entrance of the Val Sarentino valley close to Bolzano (Bozen), Castel Rafenstein - “Burg Rafenstein” in German - appears in conspicuous position. The complex was constructed in the 13th century by the Bishop of Trento Friedrich von Wangen in order to control the commercial relationship between north and south and in order to keep the sovereignty of Bolzano. As this is also where an important commercial road passed by, this castle in the Mediaeval and still in early modern times was rather significant. At that time, Castel Rafenstein was only composed of a great hall, a low donjon as well as a circular wall.

Only in the 14th century an outer ward, a bastille and a southern wing were added to the complex. In 1357, the castle was owned by Franz von Ravenstein. As his son died very early, the possession was handed over to the Goldegg family, thereon it was bequested to the Weinecker family. From 1500 to 1599, Sigmund Gerstl and Hans Wueff owned the castle, afterwards the Earls of Wolkenstein took it over. The most significant construction phase of Castel Rafenstein took place in the 16th century, when the Mediaeval complex became a late Gothic building. Only in the 19th century, when the Earls of Wolkenstein did no longer inhabit the castle, it began to decay.

After extensive stabilisation and renovation works in the last years, the ruin of Castel Rafenstein is now accessible again to the public. Closeby there’s a restaurant, named Castel Rafenstein Restaurant, offering homemade South Tyrolean specialities. And how to reach Castel Rafenstein? It can even be reached by car, but the road is steep and narrow and only recommended to those who are experts. On foot, however, the ruin is reachable from the road to San Genesio.

Castel Rafenstein

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Castel Novale, detto anche Castel Ried (Schloss Ried in tedesco) è un castello senza molti elementi che lo caratterizzino come tale situato a nord di Bolzano, all'ingresso della Val Sarentino, ma nel comune di Renon.
Cenni storici
Dietro al famoso Castel Roncolo la valle si apre ad una piccola conca, subito dopo la quale torna a restringersi. Il castello si è servito proprio di questa conca, in passato d'importanza strategica. Nel medioevo le mura venivano bagnate dalle acque del Talvera, che oggi scorre a nemmeno venti metri di distanza. Castel Novale può vantare di essere uno di quei pochi castelli mai espugnati.

Il complesso venne costruito presumibilmente attorno al 1200 ed ampliato nel XIII secolo con abitazioni, serraglio ed una cappella. Verso la fine del XIII secolo il piccolo castello era in possesso dei Vanga: fu qui che si rifugiò Alberto Vanga, dopo aver perso tutti gli altri suoi possedimenti. Egli stesso lo vendette, a Ludovico di Brandeburgo, futuro marito di Margherita Maultasch, nel 1307.

Gli Asburgo d'Austria, i quali dal 1363 succedettero ai conti tirolesi, investirono del castello e il suo giudizio i loro funzionari, per esempio nel 1465 Lenhart Ortwegker, installato ym Rit bey Botzin.[1] Sempre per volere degli Asburgo alla fine del sec. XVI il castello ospitò fino alla morte l'ultimo voivoda della Valacchia, Pietro V lo Zoppo (Petru Șchiopul), sfuggito ai turchi e dopo la sua morte sepolto presso la Chiesa dei Francescani di Bolzano.

Oggi il complesso ben conservato è di proprietà privata e dunque non è visitabile se non eccezionalmente.

Castel Novale

Runkelstein Castle (German: Schloss Runkelstein; Italian: Castel Roncolo) is a medieval fortification on a rocky spur in the territory of Ritten, near the city of Bolzano in South Tyrol, Italy. In 1237 Alderich Prince-Bishop of Trent gave the brothers Friedrich and Beral Lords of Wangen permission to construct a castle on the rock then called Runchenstayn.
History
In 1274 it was damaged during a siege by Meinhard II of Tirol, who after winning the war against Heinrich Prince-Bishop of Trent, entrusted the castle to Gottschalk Knoger of Bozen. In 1385 the Niklaus and Franz Vintler wealthy merchant brothers from Bozen bought the castle. Niklaus was counselor and financier of the Count of Tyrol, Leopold III, Duke of Austria, which allowed them to buy the castle a type of residence unfitting in this time for people of their rank. The brothers Vintler commissioned a vast restructuring of the castle: a new defence wall, moat, a cistern and more rooms were built. In 1390 the construction of the Summer House began. The house was painted with frescos, for which the castle is most famous today, inside and outside. The frescos topics were of literary nature, depicting i.e. King Arthur and his knights, Tristolde and Isotan, Dietrich von Bern. The family also commissioned the frescoes in the Western and Eastern Palace. They were created by an unknown masters and some of them depict scenes from Pleiers romance Garel.
In 1407 the monetary conflict between Frederick IV, Duke of Austria “mit der leeren Tasche“ (with empty pocket), Count of Tyrol and wealthy Tyrolean noble families resulted in open war. The Vintlers were drawn into these disputes and Runkelstein was besieged. Niklaus, who had allied with himself with the nobles in the "Hawk League" lost all his wealth and possessions. His brother Franz, who had allied with the Duke remained owner of the Castle until Sigismund, Archduke of Austria “der Münzreiche” (rich with coins) acquired it.

The Habsburg family owned the castle until 1530. Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I gave order to renovate the castle. He furnished his apartment and commissioned a restoration of the frescos. He also ordered his Coat of Arms to be prominently displayed in the castle. Around 1500 Maximilian gave the castle to his vassal Georg von Frundsberg, famous “Father of the Landsknechte”. Frundsberg entrusted the care of the castle to a vicar. In 1520 the powder magazine on the groundfloor of the tower exploded. The explosion damaged parts of the outer wall, entrance and Eastern Palace and destroyed the tower. Afterwards the castle was neglected until King Ferdinand I bestowed it in 1530 to Sigmund von Brandis, Knight Commander of Bozen.

Later the Prince-Bishop of Trent obtained the castle anew and Prince-Bishop Bernhard von Cles gave it as a feud to the Counts of Lichtenstein-Kastelkorn. In 1672 a fire destroyed the eastern palace, which was never rebuilt. In 1759 the last Liechtenstein-Kastelkorn gave back the fief to the Trentine bishops. At the time the castle was in grave decay.

During the Romanticism period in the early nineteenth century romanticists rediscovered Runkelstein. Johann Joseph von Görres, a German writer was the first to come and was soon followed by the many artists in the service of King Ludwig I of Bavaria. In this time the castle became a symbol for the Romantic period. In 1868, the northern wall of the Summer House collapsed, but in 1880 the castles fortunes changed: Johann Salvator Archduke of Austria bought Runkelstein and gave it as a gift to Emperor Franz Josef in 1882. The emperor commissioned Friedrich von Schmidt to restore the Castle and after the restoration donated it to the city of Bozen in 1893. The last restoration, including a careful restoration of the frescos was carried out in the late 1990s.

https://en.wikipedia.org

Runkelstein Castle

Castel Sant'Antonio (Schloss Klebenstein in tedesco) è un castello che si trova a Bolzano, all'imbocco della Val Sarentino, presso il ponte S. Antonio (St.-Antons-Brücke) sul torrente Talvera e non distante da Castel Roncolo.
The residential tower of Castel Sant’Antonio, originally called Karnol, dates back to the 13th century. It has been built at the junction of Bolzano - Val Sarentino and San Genesio - Gries/San Maurizio. Once upon a time at this place there was a bridge across the Talvera, the river coming from Val Sarentino.
The castle complex of Castel Sant’Antonio has been repeatedly enlarged in the 14th to 16th century. Part of the complex is a chapel, the little Sant’Antonio church and several residential wings. Under the rule of the lords of Schidmanns , in 1900 the castle has been given its final appearance. A circular wall with embrasures, crenels, a second tower and a square pavilion were added. Today the castle strikes due to its original appearance.

Only later on the castle was named after its owners of those days. The district of Bolzano in which Castel Sant’Antonio is located has been named after a church that belongs to the castle. It is one of the ancient and rather green parts of the city. This is where two great promenades start: the Talvera and San Osvaldo promenade, perfect for a pleasant hike. Today Castel Sant’Antonio is in possession of the Aufschnaiter family and is also inhabited by its tenants.

Castel Sant’Antonio

Castel Mareccio (Schloss Maretsch in tedesco) è un castello situato nel comune di Bolzano, in pieno centro storico, in una posizione che ne fa una residenza, piuttosto che una costruzione di difesa.
La prima menzione del toponimo „Moretes“ risale agli anni 1180/90.[1] Il nucleo più antico del castello, non fu fatto costruire nel 1194, come la bibliografia più datata ha acriticamente sostenuto, da un certo Berthold von Bozen (Bertholdus de Bauzano), il quale non starebbe invece in alcuna relazione causale con la fortificazione. Il casato di Maretsch che diede il nome al castello, appare solamente nel 1275 con Enricus de Marets, un ministeriale del conte Mainardo II di Tirolo-Gorizia.[1] Infatti, il torrione principale è databile solamente nel Duecento mentre è dal Trecento in poi che si susseguirono diverse fasi di ampliamento, di cui fanno parte anche il muro di cortina e i merli. Nel 1431 il castello è documentato quale „Maretsch bey Botzen“ e nel 1438 quale „Maretsch ober Botzen“.

Il ramo bolzanino dei Mareccio si estinse nel 1835, passando al ramo di Naturno e di qui, per matrimonio, alla famiglia Reifer. Quando era di proprietà di Christofer Reifer, questi disobbedì al duca Sigismondo il Danaroso e fu per questo imprigionato e costretto a pagare una multa che comprendeva la cessione al duca del castello e delle sue adiacenze. Sigismondo lo vendette ai signori Metzner (1476), che a loro volta lo vendettero ai Römer.

L'ampliamento più sostanziale fu voluto proprio dalla famiglia Römer verso la metà del XVI secolo: le altre quattro torri e gli affreschi nella sala dei cavalieri, nelle torri e nella cappella risalgono a quel periodo, così come il fossato di cinta col ponte. Gli autori dei numerosi affreschi sono ignoti, ma sono senz'altro riferibili alla corte dell'arciduca Sigismondo. I temi degli affreschi sono biblici, ma anche araldici. Anche come riconoscimento per questi lavori, ai Römer fu concesso il titolo di baroni dall'arciduca Ferdinando II d'Austria.

Passato per matrimonio agli Hendl, il castello nel XVII secolo passò prima al convento di Stams, poi a Guidobaldo di Thun, arcivescovo di Salisburgo.

I Thun lo possedettero fino al 1851, acquistato da Anna von Sarnthein. Questa lo affittò all'erario austriaco e Castel Mareccio divenne per oltre mezzo secolo deposito d'armi.

Dopo l'annessione all'Italia divenne sede dell'Archivio di Stato, ma lo stato della costruzione era tale che si rese necessaria una profonda ristrutturazione (1930/31). Negli anni ottanta l'Archivio fu spostato altrove. Lo acquisì allora l'azienda di soggiorno e turismo di Bolzano e ne fece sede, dopo un attento e impegnativo restauro sia delle strutture che degli affreschi, di convegni, mostre ed eventi.

Su una parete della torre di Castel Mareccio è presente il Sator, la parola palindroma che contiene il Padre Nostro e l'alfa e l'omega.

Maretsch Castle

Castel Campegno (in tedesco Burg Kampenn) è un castello medievale che si trova vicino a Bolzano in Alto Adige.
Probabilmente la costruzione del castello risale al 1200, anche se non ci sono giunte molte informazioni sui primi proprietari.

Nel 1325 divenne di proprietà del monastero benedettino di Sonnenburg in Val Pusteria. Seguirono poi varie famiglie nobili come i Lichtenstein nel XV secolo, i Mareccio nel XVI secolo e i von Kuepach dal 1599 al 1801.

Nel 1896 fu acquistato da Johann Weithaas che attuò dei profondi restauri e gli conferì l'aspetto attuale.

Dopo la seconda guerra mondiale divenne di proprietà del giornalista Dr. Felix Gasbarra che continuò l'opera di recupero.

Oggi il castello è una dimora privata e non è visitabile.

Il nucleo del castello è costituito dal mastio trecentesco con a sinistra il palazzo residenziale e a destra la cappella. Il tutto è racchiuso da una bassa cinta muraria. Il palazzo ha uno stile rinascimentale che si può identificare anche nel portale e nelle torrette angolari.

È raggiungibile seguendo la strada che parte dalla stazione a valle della Funivia del Colle e si trova di fronte a Castel Cornedo dall'altra parte della Val d'Ega.

Castel Campegno 

Karneid Castle (Italian: Cornedo all'Isarco) is a castle in northern Italy situated in the comune (municipality) of Karneid in the province of South Tyrol in the Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, located about 4 km east of the city of Bolzano (Bozen).
Historical background
A 20th century analysis of the castle by the historian Martin Bitschnau suggests it was constructed between the late 12th and early 13th centuries CE by vassals of the Prince-Bishopric of Brixen, an imperial estate of the Holy Roman Empire.

The fortress stands perched dramatically on an inaccessible cliff face above the confluence of the Eggental and the Eisack rivers, on the historically resonant ancient border between the kingdoms of the Lombards and the Bavarii. The name 'Karneid' derives from the Latin "cornus" meaning “horn”.
The legend of the ghost riders of Karneid
Many years ago a dreadful plague raged in the Tyrol. From his castle high on the cliffs, the lord of Karneid surveyed the devastation in the valleys below. Fearing for the safety of his wife, his children and his followers, he made a solemn vow that if God spared the castle from disease he and his followers would perform a pilgrimage to the church of Maria Weissenstein to give thanks to the Virgin Mary.

In the weeks that followed the plague gradually retreated and all those residing in Karneid escaped unharmed. There was much celebration and the pilgrimage was soon forgotten as people returned gratefully to their everyday routines.

But the terror of the Black Death soon returned to the valley and this time struck the castle, carrying off its inhabitants one by one. The knight's entire clan, his wife and his children perished. He himself was the last to pass, a year to the day after he had made his vow.

Every year on the night of the anniversary of their Lord's death, when the grapes have ripened on the vines in the valley, the cursed inhabitants of Karneid rise from their graves to fulfill their promise and perform their pilgrimage to Weissenstein. Many a pious pilgrim seeking shelter late at night has seen the Knight and his family dressed in black, slowly riding their skeletal horses up the mountain, doomed to fulfill their vow for all eternity.

Karneid Castle 

The first castle built on the rock spur above Bolzano (Bozen) by the Lords of Haselberg dates back to the 12th century. Already in those days the fortress boasted a circular wall at its east and south flank, which could easily be assaulted. The great hall was located just above the porphry rocks. It is presumed that also a donjon already existed at that time. Only few documents testify the renovations in the 13th and 15th century. Between 1474 and 1541, Castel Flavon - “Haselburg” in German - was repeatedly changend and enlarged. Still today the renovations that were carried out under this rule is in great parts preserved.

A double arcade hall, a further great hall in the north of the castle as well as a new defence wall were added. Moreover the rooms of the three-winged castle were lushly decorated with frescoes. From 2001 to 2002, Castel Flavon was refurbished under the direction of the architect Dietmar Dejori. Overbuildings from the 18th century were eliminated from the ancient double arcades, cellars were laid open and the collapsed great hall in the north was rebuilt in order to restore the original three-winged form of the building.

Nowadays Castel Flavon hosts a restaurant as well as various rooms that are used for seminars, congresses and marriage celebrations, whereas the SkyBar with view on Bolzano is a place for parties. Worth noticing are the frescoes in the interior, illustrating emperors and generals as well as scenes of the antique myth of Apollo. And how to reach Castel Flavon? A street leads from the city up to the castle, and from the parking space in the wood it’s only a short walk to Castel Flavon.

https://www.suedtirolerland.it

Castel Flavon


is an extensive castle and set of fortifications near Bolzano in South Tyrol. Today its ruins house the fourth mountain museum established by the South Tyrolean mountaineer, Reinhold Messner. On 9 June 2006 the MMM (Messner Mountain Museum Firmian) was opened in this fortified castle dating to the Late Middle Ages.

History
The first historical mention of the castle, under the name Formicaria (later Formigar), dates back to AD 945. In 1027 Emperor Conrad II transferred it to the Bishop of Trent. In the 12th century it was given to ministeriales, who from then on were named the Firmian family. Around 1473 the Prince of Tyrol, Duke Sigismund the Rich, bought the castle, renamed it Sigmundskron Castle and had it developed to withstand firearms. Of the old castle of Formigar there are only a few remnants left today, mostly located on the highest point of the site. Due to financial difficulties Sigmund had to pledge the castle soon afterwards. As a result the site fell increasingly into disrepair.

At the end of the 18th century the castle belonged to the Count Wolkenstein, from 1807 to 1870 the counts of Sarnthein and from then until 1994 the counts of Toggenburg. In 1976, the half-ruined castle was partially restored by an innkeeper's family and opened as a restaurant. In 1996 the castle passed into the possession of the Province of Bolzano. In the spring of 2003, after much controversy, Reinhold Messner was given a licence for his long-planned mountain museum.

During construction work a Neolithic grave was discovered in March 2006, in which a woman's skeletal remains were found. The age of the grave is estimated to be 6,000-7,000 years.

A symbol of the independence movement
The fortress is an important political symbol in South Tyrol. In 1957, under the leadership of Silvius Magnago, the largest protest rally in the history of South Tyrol was held here. More than 30,000 gathered in the castle to protest against the failure of the Paris Convention to protest and demand freedom for South Tyrol ("Freedom from Trent").

Sigmundskron Castle

History
Castel Nehaus, also known as Castel Casanova, has a very lively history. Erected between 1241 and 1248 in the territory that Kunigunde, wife of Emperor Henry II, had donated to the Diocese of Bamberg, it was from this last date in fief to the Lords of Tures (Taufers). Beginning in 1504, a succession of property passages begins, during which the manor house will be owned by the Neuhaus families from Bressanone, Teutenhofen, Kunkl and Soll Von Aichberg.

To date, the imposing square-shaped keep, a portion of perimeter walls and a tract of an artificial moat that served as a defensive outpost remain from the original core of the complex. During the nineteenth century the entire structure was subjected to heavy rearrangements to make it look more romantic according to the fashion of the time, but despite this the main elements were not erased.

Throughout its long life, Neuhaus Castle has housed within its walls illustrious personalities: the poet Oswald von Wolkenstein, who lived here for a few years, the Bacher family of artists who for almost a century had his artistic laboratory here and finally, during the second world war, the famous American poet Ezra Pound found refuge in the castle with his family.

Castel Neuhaus is during the summer season an important meeting point for numerous international artists and home to various theatrical and musical events. Elegant rooms with solid wood ceilings and decorated with antique paintings are available for weddings and other ceremonies. Those who stay here will find a well-deserved rest in one of the comfortable bedrooms with services and breathtaking panoramic views and can then taste fine wines and experience local gastronomic specialties.

https://www.histouring.com

Castello Neuhaus

The keep, which dominates the entire structure, was erected in 1236 by the Lords von Korb. This family was part of the ministerial line of the Counts of Appiano. Following the property passed as a fiefdom to various families in the area. In 1834 a certain Mr. Johann von Puter bought the castle and had it enlarged with a small chapel. He also had the various elements decorated with merlons, very typical for the Roman period.

In 1877 the castle was sold to the German von Tessmann family. The son, Friedrich von Tessmann, was a well-known scholar of Tyrolean history and culture, and he is responsible for the library collection he donated to the province afterwards.

In 1918 the Dellago family bought Castel Corba, which transformed the hotel over the years into a hotel. In addition, the structure was also expanded with a farm, a restaurant and a cellar.

Castel Corba was originally a small fortress, also called "fixed house". The most recently constructed buildings are part of an expansion all in the romantic style of the time. On the facades we can see the mullioned windows with round arches, architraved with central column and capital and also the round-arched door with architrave.

Located just outside the town of Appiano, in a green valley designed by rows of vines and orchards located between the peaks of the Dolomites, here are two medieval castles, a few tens of meters from each other. Castel Corba and Castel Boymont, both belonging to the Dellago family, who used them to welcome guests in the most ancient of South Tyrolean traditions. Schloss Korb has thus become an elegant four-star hotel, the other castle an original meeting place outdoors or for picnics.

In a harmonious synthesis between ancient and modern, Schloss Korb offers various types of accommodation, suitable for every need. From the smaller and simpler attic rooms to the spacious ones located both in the castle and in the newly built part, ending with the apartments and the comfortable suites of the medieval tower. In all the rooms a refined romantic touch coexists with the traditional alpine style, with bedrooms and rooms covered in wood paneling. Next to the central body there is a wellness area with a large indoor pool, a single and family sauna and a massage room. In the park there are also another swimming pool, two clay tennis courts and a play area for children.

https://www.histouring.com