Montechiaro Castle

Above Prato allo Stelvio tower the ruins of Montechiaro Castle, with a magnificent view over the Val Venosta and towards Coira Castle

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The ruins of Montechiaro Castle tower above the village of the same name, a small district of Prato allo Stelvio in the upper part of the Val Venosta.
Foto: FD, © Peer
View from the Castle Path (Schlossweg), which leads up from the car park: Visible is the church of Montechiaro, where the art-historical tour starts.
Foto: FD, © Peer
It is an interesting guided tour that tells you the details and history of the castle once respectively twice a week between May and October.
Foto: FD, © Peer
The Palas and parts of the ring wall have remained, as well as a few frescoes depicting knights and minstrels of the Middle Ages.
Foto: FD, © Peer
Most of the frescoes, which are very valuable by the way, were transferred to the Tyrolean State Museum Ferdinandeum a century ago.
Foto: FD, © Peer
The position was strategically favourable: From here, the Upper and Lower Val Venosta could be overlooked and therefore optimally guarded.
Foto: FD, © Peer
In the 16th century, about 400 years after its existence, the castle was finally rebuilt into a fortified Renaissance castle.
Foto: FD, © Peer
Over the centuries, Montechiaro Castle was in the hands of the bailiffs of Mazia, the Lords of Montechiaro, the Counts of Tyrol, the Counts of Spaur and the Counts of Khuen of Belasi.
Foto: FD, © Peer
The Lords of Montechiaro had it decorated with the famous heroic frescoes around 1400 AD.
Foto: FD, © Peer
Today it is privately owned by the Counts of Khuen-Belasi, who built a memorial chapel on the neighbouring hill of St. Christina in 1575.
Foto: FD, © Peer
Those who lived in the castle had rights and duties towards the owners, such as required taxes, hunting bans and grazing rights.
Foto: FD, © Peer
In 1993, the Kuratorium Schloss Lichtenberg (Lichtenberg Castle Board of Trustees) was founded with the aim of preserving, restoring and saving the majestic castle ruins from decay.
Foto: FD, © Peer
In future plans, the castle should also be used for cultural events that are open to the public.
Foto: FD, © Peer

It is the small district of the same name, above which the ruin of Montechiaro Castle - "Ruine Lichtenberg" in German, "Castel Montechiaro" in Italian - rises majestically. The complex is decayed, but still exudes dominance and tells of former noble times. Until 1513, it was in the possession of the powerful Counts of Tyrol, then it passed to the Counts of Khuen-Belasi.

The family still owns the castle today. Like most of the approx. 800 castles and palaces in South Tyrol, also Montechiaro Castle has experienced a lot. It was built at the end of the 12th century, probably by the bailiffs of Mazia. The rocky ridge on which Montechiaro Castle stands was a strategically interesting spot, because from here the area of influence of the Bishopric of Coira and the Counts of Tyrol, the Upper and Lower Val Venosta, could be well guarded. A crenellated ring wall, an outer ward and a chapel were part of it, as well as a round path and a large, three-storey Palas. In the 16th century, it was rebuilt into a fortified Renaissance castle. A century ago, the magnificent building above Montechiaro then slowly but steadily decayed.

Today, the complex is freely accessible, and interesting art-historical guided tours are also offered. You will learn, for example, that the fresco cycle of the castle depicted the Minnesang, the singers and the knights in the Middle Ages. It is the most important secular fresco cycle in Tyrol after that of Roncolo Castle near Bolzano. In 1912, the frescoes were removed and taken to the Tyrolean State Museum Ferdinandeum in Innsbruck - a few remained in the ruin. And how can Montechiaro Castle be reached? There are parking facilities in Montechiaro (Lichtenberg), a district of Prato allo Stelvio (Prad am Stilfserjoch). From there it is a walk of 10-15 minutes to the castle.

Contact info

Via del Castello / Schlossweg - 39026 - Montechiaro/Prato / Lichtenberg/Prad
+39 0473 616034
tv@prad.info

Admission

freely accessible

More information

The ruin of Montechiaro Castle is freely accessible, the artistically historical tours to the castle are offered every year from May to September resp. October. Season start 2025 in early May.

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