Castles in South Tyrol

South Tyrol – the land of mountains – is also the land of castles and manors. The historical buildings invite to discover the exciting history of South Tyrol and give the picturesque landscape a mystical aura.

Culture hotels

With around 800 castles, South Tyrol offers a fascinating treasure, fascinating countless visitors every year. Enchanted ruins by the wayside tell about princesses, knights and robbers. Many lovingly renovated castles in South Tyrol are restaurants, castle hotels or museums and open for visitors. Some of them are still inhabited by the castle lords and function as summer residence.

In summer, the famous extreme mountaineer Reinhold Messner lives at Castel Juval in Kastelbell-Tschars, at the entrance of Schnalstal. Here, he has also realised one of his six Messner Mountain Museums. Two other museums by Messner are located at Castle Bruneck and at Castle Sigmundskron near Bozen.

In the south of Bozen, around Eppan, visitors are able to see 200 castles and manors. This is why the area is the most castle-populated region in Europe, offering many well-known excursions and interesting cultural attractions. A recommendation for families is the castle hike in Eppan.

South Tyrolean Castle Institute

Since 1963, the South Tyrolean Castle Institute aims at protecting private and public South Tyrolean castles. In addition to professional documentation, restoration and maintenance of Castle Trostburg and Castle Taufers, which are in possession of the institute, the association also engages in creating awareness among its members.

The voluntary association organises exhibitions, seminars and conferences around the topic of castles. As well, it encourages castle publications and the release of ARX magazine (lat. castle). The straight collaboration with other European castle institutes is of high importance in this matter.