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.

Address

Via del Castello 20, Tirolo, Italy

See all sites in Tirolo

Details

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

More Information

www.suedtirolerland.it
en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.4/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Bolzano Cathedral (26,7 km)
Bolzano Franciscan Friary (26,5 km)
Branzoll Castle (32,4 km)
South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology (26,3 km)
Thun Castle (46,7 km)
Sigmundskron Castle (26,4 km)
Maretsch Castle (26,1 km)
Runkelstein Castle (25,2 km)
St. Paul's Church (25,9 km)

User Reviews

Elmar Schaaf (2 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 (11 months ago)
Great views on Meran!

Daniela Marks (2 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 (4 years ago)
Nice burg

Arjen Meurs (5 years ago)
Interesting vollection. Fine castle

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Finest Norman castles in Italy

Exploring the History of Northern Poland

Discovering Slovenia's Historic Wonders

Photo from Flickr, copyright CONTROTONO

Historic Site of the week

Clementinum

The Clementinum is a historic complex of buildings in Prague. Until recently the complex hosted the National, University and Technical libraries, the City Library also being located nearby on Mariánské Náměstí. The Technical library and the Municipal library have moved to the Prague National Technical Library at Technická 6 since 2009. It is currently in use as the National Library of the Czech Republic.

Its history dates from the existence of a chapel dedicated to Saint Clement in the 11th century. A Dominican monastery was founded in the medieval period, which was transformed in 1556 to a Jesuit college. In 1622 the Jesuits transferred the library of Charles University to the Klementinum, and the college was merged with the University in 1654. The Jesuits remained until 1773, when the Klementinum was established as an observatory, library, and university by the Empress Maria Theresa of Austria.