Trostburg Castle

Trostburg Castle - or Forte Castle - perches on a rocky outcrop above Ponte Gardena in the Isarco Valley. First documented around 1173, it was the seat of Konrad of Trostberg, a descendant of the Lords of Castelrotto. Around 1290, Trostburg Castle passed from the Lords of Velturno to the Counts of Tyrol, who subsequently pledged it to the Lords of Wolkenstein.

For approximately 600 years, the complex remained in the possession of the Counts of Wolkenstein-Trostburg, one of Tyrol's most prominent noble families. The renowned late-medieval poet and composer Oswald von Wolkenstein (1377-1445) spent his childhood here. Between the 14th and 16th centuries, the castle was significantly expanded, and in the 17th century, under Engelhard Dietrich, Count of Wolkenstein-Trostburg, it was renovated in the Renaissance style.

In 1981, the South Tyrolean Castle Institute acquired Trostburg Castle, saving it from ruin. The institute maintains the castle's historic character while making it accessible to the public. Since 2005, Trostburg Castle has housed the South Tyrolean Castles Museum. Thanks to extensive restoration and conservation efforts, the castle's structure is in excellent condition.

Romanesque door and window arches, Gothic fortifications from Oswald von Wolkenstein's time, magnificent halls and ornate panelling from the 16th and 17th centuries, as well as stuccowork and Renaissance furnishings await you. How to get there: You can reach the castle on foot via the medieval, paved Via Trostburg, which climbs steeply from Ponte Gardena (car park) up to it in 15 minutes. Alternatively, the slightly longer, but less steep, Via Burgfrieden is another option.