The ancestral home of Tyrol - from a count’s residence to the Museum of Culture and Provincial History
Image gallery: Tyrol Castle
Tyrol Castle, once the seat of the Counts of Tyrol, a lineage extinguished in 1253, stands today as a significant landmark. It gave its name to the region of Tyrol, which emerged under Meinhard, Duke of Carinthia, in the 13th century. The ring wall from around 1100 is among the oldest preserved castle walls. Around 1140, the Counts of Tyrol expanded the complex into their residence.
Tyrol Castle (Schloss Tirol) quickly became the most important castle in all of Tyrol. Its heyday was under Margaret, Countess of Tyrol, nicknamed "Maultasch". However, this golden age ended with her abdication and the relocation of the residence to Innsbruck. The castle still sits majestically above Merano, perched on a mighty moraine hill. The impressive portals of the great hall and the castle chapel remain well-preserved. Inside the chapel are numerous early Gothic frescoes, Tyrol's oldest stained-glass windows, and a larger-than-life-size crucifixion group.
Above the chapel entrance is the oldest surviving depiction of the Tyrolean Eagle, dating from the 13th century. The castle underwent renovations in the 20th century. Since 2003, Tyrol Castle has housed the South Tyrolean Museum of Culture and Provincial History. It also manages visits to the St. Stephen's Chapel in Montani di Sopra, known as the "Sistine Chapel of South Tyrol".
Right next to the castle is the "Gufyland" Bird Care Centre, which offers flight demonstrations. How to get there: From Tirolo village, you can reach Tyrol Castle via the Via del Castello road. This traffic-free path leads you through an old tunnel to the magnificent building in about 30 minutes.
Contact info
- Via del Castello / Schlossweg 24 - 39019 - Tirolo / Dorf Tirol
- +39 0473 220221
- info@casteltirolo.it / guide@casteltirolo.it
Opening times
Despite careful control we cannot guarantee the correctness of the provided data.
Admission
South Tyrolean Museum of Culture and Provincial History:
€ 10.00 adults
€ 7.50 students and apprentices (up to 26 years)
€ 7.50 groups (15 and more persons)
€ 7.50 seniors 65+
€ 7.50 people with disabilities
€ 3.00 school classes
free for children under 6 years
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family ticket:
€ 10.00 1 adult with children up to 16 years
€ 20.00 2 adults with children up to 16 years
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guided tour:
€ 4.00 groups (15 and more persons, per person)
€ 2.00 school classes (per person)
€ 4.00 audio guide
More information
Audio guides for children and for adults are available in English, German and Italian language. Guided tours may be requestet via e-mail until 10 days before the selected date.
Tyrol Castle and its museum stay open every year from mid-March to early November, Monday rest day. Closure days 2025: September 5 and 14.
Only small dog are allowed in the area (in a pet carrier).
Furthermore, Tyrol Castle is accessible during the Advent period for the event "Tyrolean Advent in the Castle". Unfortunately, the castle is not barrier-free. Season start 2025 on March 15.
"Hoangort" - folk music and songs
on 25/05/2025
Soirées at Tyrol Castle
from 19/06/2025 to 17/07/2025, 5 occurrences
