Brunnenburg Castle

Tirolo, Italy

Brunnenburg (Castel Fontana) is situated above the city of Merano, on the outskirts of the municipality of Tirol (Tirolo). Originally built circa 1250, the castle was completely restored and updated in the mid-20th century by Boris and Mary de Rachewiltz, who have made it their home.

Today Brunnenburg  hosts an Agriculture Museum, dedicated to ethnology, ethnography and folk arts. Moreover it makes visitors familiar with the processing of crops and bread making, the preparation of butter and cheese and much more and illustrates the hard everyday life of South Tyrolean farmers in former periods.

Also almost forgotten professions such as shoemaking and weaving are presented, preventing these activities from falling into oblivion. Finally, the castle is also home to farm animals, above all an attraction for kids.

Comments

Your name



Details

Founded: c. 1250
Category: Castles and fortifications in Italy

Rating

4.4/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Elmar Schaaf (5 months ago)
Nice museum with an extensive collection of ancient farming tools used in that region, carefully displayed. However I recommend wearing shoes and socks and long pants to not have your feet badly bitten by I don't know what little blood sucking insects. Both my mum and I had the pleasure.
Maurice Hermsen (2 years ago)
Great views on Meran!
Daniela Marks (3 years ago)
A lovely look into medieval practices of handicraft, agriculture and household ingredients. In Italian and German. The setting is convincing and magical.
Samy Smart (5 years ago)
Nice burg
Arjen Meurs (6 years ago)
Interesting vollection. Fine castle
Powered by Google

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Historic Site of the week

Church of St Donatus

The Church of St Donatus name refers to Donatus of Zadar, who began construction on this church in the 9th century and ended it on the northeastern part of the Roman forum. It is the largest Pre-Romanesque building in Croatia.

The beginning of the building of the church was placed to the second half of the 8th century, and it is supposed to have been completed in the 9th century. The Zadar bishop and diplomat Donat (8th and 9th centuries) is credited with the building of the church. He led the representations of the Dalmatian cities to Constantinople and Charles the Great, which is why this church bears slight resemblance to Charlemagne's court chapels, especially the one in Aachen, and also to the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna. It belongs to the Pre-Romanesque architectural period.

The circular church, formerly domed, is 27 m high and is characterised by simplicity and technical primitivism.