We visited the little village above Merano in South Tyrol for an overnight stay. And on our sunny day we wanted to have a look to the most important sight the place offers: the Tyrol Castle, where once the rulers of Tirol were reigning.
We started in the center where we left the car on a parking place near to the visitor center. The walk to the castle is already beautiful, strolling on the Schlossprommenade. We have a wonderful overview on the surrounding vineyards and on two castles: the Brunnenburg and the Tyrol Castle.
The Brunnenburg – Castle Fountain – was built originally in 1250, not certain if from the noble family of Tarant. In the late 19th century a German business man bought the castle and rebuilt it in the old style. After WW II the daughter of Ezra Pound, Mary de Rachewitz, bought the castle. Maybe in memory of her father who stayed here for four years between 1958 and 1962 to write his last parts of his ‘120 cantos’.
Today it is still home to the de Rachewitz family. Furthermore there is the Ezra Pound Center of Literature that gives students the possibility to study the works of the famous American poet.
We just had a look at the castle from the Prommenadenweg. Beautiful is the view from here also because you see both the castles, one after the other and both on different rocks.
The Tyrol Castle in situated north under the rock die Mai of Mount Mute. We arrive here passing a small tunnel and going up a well hidden path. Easy to imagine that once it was not that easy to see the road leading to the castle. Before we pay an entrance fee we could see the fortification of the structure. Definitely not easy to be conquered.
The rock where the castle stands was inhabited already in ancient times. Under the chapel of the building there was once a pre-Christian church of the 5th century as well a Carolingian church of the 8th century. It was the count Meinhard II of Tirolo who gave the region the name and who had his headquarters right in this castle. It was the home of the Aristocratic family until 1420. The two gates are of the Romanesque period.
The base of the Tyrol Castle was built already before 1100 and the keep only 40 years later. Another construction phase took place in the 13th century on behalf the count Meinhard II of Gorizia-Tyrol.
His granddaughter Margaret of Tyrol, who was a very important figure in Tyrol’s history, was not only the last of her family, but she was also besieged by the forces of Charles IV of Luxembourg. Until 1420 it was the seat of the Tyrol sovereigns. Then the administration was moved to Innsbruck and the castle lost its importance.
A part of the castle slid in the gorge. The remaining parts of today were restored in the 19th century, the keep int the beginning of the last century.
The two portals are amazing. They are Romanesque and have amazing details to show. The sculptures are impressive.
Every window – for example from the knights’ hall – offer a breathtaking view on the surrounding hills and mountains with tiny villages and a lot of vineyards.
Today it is the South Tyrolean Museum of History. And that’s what we were walking in: a place with amazing wall paintings in the chapel, a dark basement room were once was hidden an amazing treasure of the Tyrol family, an inner yard that made me think how ladies with high heels were walking on the cobbled stones and a super high keep. This was maybe the most interesting as it has some showcases where we could see the former life in the far Middle Age. On 20(!) levels you can see the development during the 20th century.
The admission charge is about 7 € without any guided tour. It is open to the public from mid March to mid December from 10 am to 5 pm.
From the outer bailey you will have a perfect view in the city of Merano and the whole valley.
Tirol, South-Tyrol/Italy:
For further information:
Official website of Tirol
Official website of Castel Tirol
