Moos-Schulthaus is composed of several residential and farm buildings and combines Castel Moos with the Schulthaus Residence. The history of both, once in separated ownership, dates back to the 13th century. In 1958 the merchant Walther Amonn from Bolzano purchased the castle and had the residence restored. In the course of these works, whitewashed frescoes of the period around 1400 AD were discovered. Since 2013 Castel Moos-Schulthaus is administered by the South Tyrolean Castle Institute.
Today Castel Moos-Schulthaus is located in a rather hidden position above Castel Ganda in Appiano Monte, in the west of the Gleif Church, and is an ideal walking destination. In 1983 a museum dedicated to the Mediaeval culture of living was inaugurated, providing an interesting insight into the life of a bygone era. You can e.g. see a well-preserved Mediaeval kitchen, a Gothic stube and ancient furniture. The museum also displays a collection of paintings of Tyrolean artists of the first half of the 20th century.
One of the peculiarities of the museum are its illustrations. In the fresco “War of cats and mice” of 1410, the mice come out on top. Moreover there are illustrations of hunting scenes and a tree of wonders. Part of the complex is also a church of the 14th century, transformed into a residential building in the 19th century.
Towering 52 meters above the sea, Bengtskär lighthouse is the tallest one in Scandinavia. The building started in in 1905 after the shipwreck of S/S Helsingfors and was completed in 1906. The lighthouse was designed by architect Florentin Granholm. On December a special petrol lantern, designed and built in Paris, was brought to Bengtskär and installed atop the tower.
German fleet bombarded Bengstkär in the First World War in 1914. Since the Gulf of Finland was heavily mined, it was not until 1919 that the surrounding seas were declared safe for shipping, that the light was lit again.
After the war the military value of Bengtskär increased as part of the defence system of independent Finland. In Second World War (1941) Soviet Union made a suprise attack to island. After a bloody battle, the small Finnish garrison emerged victorious. Intermittent repairs to the facility continued during the post-war period.