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)

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User Reviews

Elmar Schaaf (4 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

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Photo from Flickr, copyright discopalace

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Sigmaringen Castle

Sigmaringen Castle was first mentioned in the year 1077 in the chronicles of Petershausen monastery. The oldest parts of the castle are concealed beneath the alterations made during the 17th and the 19th centuries. The secret of the earliest settlement built on this defendable rock will never be fully revealed: large-scale excavation work would be necessary, which the extensive land development renders impossible. Judging from the many Roman remains unearthed in the area around Sigmaringen, the 12th century keep known as the 'Roman Tower' could be traced back to a Roman predecessor.

The castle remains that have been preserved (gate, great hall and keep) date back to the Staufer period around 1200. The castle remains were integrated into subsequent buildings. The foundations of the castle buildings are to a large extent identical to the surrounding castle wall.

These remains give us a good idea of how the castle might have looked during the 12th century.