Trostburg Castle

The impressive Trostburg Castle in Valle Isarco hosts the South Tyrolean Castles Museum. This one of the most famous and splendid castles of South Tyrol is located on an eastern hillside on a natural rocky promontory. The history of the castle dates back to the 12th century - it has been mentioned for the first time in 1173 AD as place of residence of a certain “Cunrat de Trosperch” (Konrad of Trostberg), descending from the Lords of Castelrotto. At 1290 the castle was passed on from the Lords of Velturno to the Lords of Tyrol, who put the castle in pawn. For about 600 years the castle remained in possession of the Earls von Wolkenstein-Trostburg, one of the main nobilities of Tyrol.

Between the 14th and the 16th century the castle was fundamentally enlarged and once more in the 17th century, under Engelhard Dietrich of the nobility Wolkenstein-Trostburg. In 1981 the castle was passed on into the hands of the “Südtiroler Burgeninstitut” (South Tyrolean Castle Institute) and thus was saved from decay. This institution strives for maintaining the special character of the castle and for making the castle available for public. Since 2005 Castel Trostburg has been hosting the South Tyrolean Castles Museum.

Still today the castle is in a good state thanks to restoration and maintenance works. There are Roman archways, majestic panels and rooms dating back to the 16th and 17th century as well as mouldings of Renaissance in the interior of Castel Trostburg. Worth to be visited are also the Gothic room with panels and richly decorated beam ceiling as well as the library, which is one of the most famous of its day.

References:

• suedtirolerland.it

Address

Galleria Ponte Gardena, Waidbruck, Italy

Details

Founded: 12th century
Category: Castles and fortifications in Italy