Roncolo Castle

The Mediaeval castle is located on a protected porphyry rock on the outskirts of Bolzano, along the Val Sarentino Road between the quarters of Centro-Piani and Castel Novale or Sill, which is already part of the Renon. Roncolo Castle is particularly famous due to its mundane fresco cycle, one of the largest profane fresco cycles dating back to Mediaeval times. It illustrates authentic knight sagas, literature scenes, court ladies and life on the farm as well as hunting scenes. Furthermore, the castle serves as a backdrop for events such as the summer concerts in the courtyard or the open-air theatre performances. In the courtyard there's also a castle tavern.

In 1237, the original complex was built by the Lords of Wangen, and in 1385 the merchants Franz and Niklaus Vintler purchased it. This family had it decorated with frescoes and equipped with components that facilitated life in those times, e.g. a pivy and a cistern for water storage. From the 15th century on, it continually kept changing hands, the castle was repeatedly modified and frescoes and paintings were added. A gunpowder explosion in the southern part of the castle destroyed parts of it in 1520, and from the 18th century on it kept deteriorating.

Only when Josef con Görres recognised the value of the frescoes and reported it to Ludwig I of Bavaria, architects and artists started examining the paintings. Soon after, parts of the north wall collapsed and destroyed great parts of the frescoes. In 1883, Franz Joseph I of Austria received Roncolo Castle as donation from Archduke Johann Salvator of Austria, ad solemnly donated it to the citizens of Bolzano in 1893. And how to reach Roncolo or Runkelstein Castle? From the parking space beneath it, a paved path leads in a few minutes to the castle. Furthermore, it is one of the stations along the Castle Path "Castelronda", which connects five interesting castles.