The Versoaln, a unique white wine from Europe’s largest vine - it can be seen in Prissiano
Below Tesimo village lies Prissiano (Prissian), the municipality's second main village. Alongside tourism, fruit and wine growing play a significant role here. A particular highlight is Katzenzungen Castle, or Castel del Gatto, home to one of Europe's oldest vines: the Versoaln.
While an even older vine exists in Magrè in South Tyrol's south, no other vine rivals the Versoaln's sheer size. A single plant supports an impressive canopy of leaves, spanning around 300 sqm, which still bears grapes. Every year, several hundred bottles of Versoaln wine are produced from this remarkable vine. Katzenzungen Castle, now a popular venue for celebrations and weddings, is just one of many castles and old manor houses that characterise the landscape.
These include the Zwingenburg, the ruins of Holz Castle, and Fahlburg Castle. The latter sits enthroned directly above the village centre and houses old tiled stoves, wooden ceilings, a two-storey chapel, and valuable Baroque paintings by Stephan Kessler. Sadly, it isn't open to the public. You can discover these silent witnesses to the past on the Prissiano Forest and Castle Tour.
The road through the village still crosses the old stone bridge - known in the local dialect as "Stuanbogen" - over the Rio Prissiano stream. This covered bridge was first mentioned in 1308 and even served as a storage space for fire ladders for a time. On the edge of the village, where the path leads downhill, you'll find Vorbichl, a hill with a small church. A prehistoric hilltop settlement was discovered there. Today, artworks and information panels adorn the forest, as this area is home to the International Felt Art Trail and the Vorbichl Adventure Trail.
