Giovo Castle

Majestic, albeit largely in ruins, Giovo Castle (Jaufenburg) sits enthroned above San Leonardo in Passiria. It was built in the 13th/14th century by the Lords of Passiria. Through marriage, the castle came into the possession of the Fuchs von Fuchsberg family in 1385 and developed into an important meeting place for minstrels and artists.

The castle also served to secure the strategically important Giovo Pass. On November 17, 1809, thousands of French soldiers invaded the Passiria Valley via this pass to conquer Tyrol. Their target was Merano, but their advance was halted by the resistance of the Val Passiria inhabitants.

The French, under Major Dorell, capitulated on November 22. Three French cannonballs from this period are now embedded in the castle's main portal. From 1738 onwards, the castle complex progressively fell into disrepair. Preserved are the five storeys of the keep with its Renaissance frescoes by Bartlmä Dill Riemenschneider from 1538. These can be viewed in the summer. The coats of arms of the Lords of Passiria and the Fuchs von Fuchsberg family, as well as remnants of other frescoes, can still be seen on the keep. From the top floor, you can enjoy a sweeping view across the Val Passiria valley down to the Merano basin.

Information boards along the tour route tell of the Lords of Passiria, the Counts Fuchs, the historic Shield Farms, and their significance for the valley. How to get there: Giovo Castle is part of the MuseumPasseier and is located 3 kilometres from it. You can reach the castle from the village centre via a steep path (30 minutes), or alternatively, a narrow access road leads to the castle.