Next to the town hall of Ried there's the former local court Sigmundsried Castle. It was built in the 14th century as a three-storey tower house, and later completed with an accommodation wing. From here the trade route across the Resia Pass, the former Via Claudia Augusta, could have been controlled.
In 1471 Sigismund, Archduke of Austria, bought the castle, rebuilt it into a hunting château and named it 'Sigmundsried'. From 1841 until 1977, it was place of the county court, and since 1999, Sigmundsried Castle (Schloss Sigmundsried) is in possession of the municipality: Along a tour on the Via Claudia Augusta Cycle Route you pass this sight.
Nowadays, the cultural association SigmundsRied offers guided tours through the castle: You can enjoy the new permanent exhibition 'The Evil Road' and an authentic equipped prison cell. In former times, Sigmundsried Castle served as a prison, the underground room was also called Angstloch, that's to say narrow hole. It is said that is served as an underground entrance to the Schwaiglhaus building. Recently, some new display cases with old findings have been added. Moreover, the place is a popular venue for concerts and cultural events.
References:The Royal Palace was built in the first half of the 19th century as the Norwegian residence of King Charles III, who also reigned as king of Sweden and otherwise resided there, and is the official residence of the present Norwegian monarch. The crown prince resides at Skaugum in Asker west of Oslo. The palace has 173 rooms.
Until the completion of the Royal Palace, Norwegian royalty resided in Paleet, the magnificent town house in Christiania that the wealthy merchant Bernt Anker bequeathed to the State in 1805 to be used as a royal residence. During the last years of the union with Denmark it was used by the viceroys of Norway, and in 1814 by the first king of independent Norway, Christian Frederick.