Sonnenburg Castle

Sonnenburg castle hill has almost 4000 years history. It has been an early historical settlement, Roman camp, early medieval castle complex, 750 years as a convent, stone quarry, ruins and poorhouse. In 1022 Count Volkhold gave the castle to Benedictines and it was converted as an abbey. The ruins of the apses, which grow out of the rock, archaic and replete with strength, tell of power and wealth, faith and devotion, but likewise of deterioration and decline.

Today’s Sonnenburg is a hotel with a reservoir of historical detail. Wandering through the house we come across impressive relicts from bygone times: Gothic frescos in the former chancel, coffered ceiling in the Residenzstube (“Residence Parlour”), Stone age spearhead and the “in-house Saint Clement” who rests in the crypt.

Address
Via Val Pusteria, Castelbadia, Italy

Established
11th century