Tyrol Castle, Tirolo, Italy - SpottingHistory.com

Tyrol Castle was the ancestral seat of the Counts of Tyrol and gave the whole Tyrol region its name.

The castle hill has been inhabited since ancient times. Several artefacts and one field of graves from the early Middle Ages have been identified. Archeologists have excavated a church with three apses dating from the early Christian period.

The first castle was built before 1100. The second construction phase including the keep dates to 1139-1140. A third phase of construction took place in the second half of the 13th century under Count Meinhard II of Gorizia-Tyrol. In 1347 Meinhard's granddaughter Countess Margaret of Tyrol was besieged here by the forces of the Luxembourg king Charles IV. The castle remained the seat of Tyrol's sovereigns until 1420, when the Habsburg archduke Frederick IV moved the administrative seat to Innsbruck north of the Brenner Pass.

In modern times parts of the castle fell into the so-called 'Köstengraben', a steep gorge. It was even sold in order to be used as a quarry. In the 19th century the castle was restored; the keep was rebuilt in 1904.

Regarding art history, the frescos of the castle's chapel are of special interest as well as two Romanesque portals with opulent marble sculptures showing legendary creatures, religious themes, and geometric ornaments.

Today, Tyrol Castle houses the South Tyrolean Museum of History. Next to the castle there is a falconry with a nursing ward for birds of prey.

References:

Wikipedia

User Reviews

Richárd Vámossy (2 years ago)
Amazing historical place with a nice tiny exhibition and a great surrounding to have a relaxing walk around. Geographically the place belongs to Italy but culturally You can observe the obvious Austrian affect and background. This place is for those who seek for a relaxing day off, some fresh air and quite and charming place. Suitable for families, couples and singles travellers also, but consider that the road at some parts is inclined and might be heavy to defeat relatively small distances at this conditions. Also, the parking places are limited too.

Henrique Silvestre (2 years ago)
Interesting but not a must

Xander Haijen (2 years ago)
A well preserved castle, just a 20-minute hike away from Dorf Tirol. The tour through the castle gives you a clear overview from the castle's history and the history of South Tirol in general. Audio guides are available in English and German, among others, but doing the tour without them is possible as well. Adjacent to the castle, there is a little cafe and souvenir shop.

Jennifer B (3 years ago)
Well worth the visit; spent 2.5 hours there; museum was very enlightening about the Tyrolean culture and history; castle was well maintained; professional staff; nice gift shop with even some interesting bargains on books; small bar within gift shipping serving good espresso and excellent apple juice. I plan to return one day as there numerous castles in the area.

Iris Burks (3 years ago)
Beautiful castle on a hilltop. The way there already promises an exciting experience. A museum which can be enjoyed in an (in our case rainy) afternoon, or spend days here to discover everything about the regional history. Museologicaly beautifully designed in a layered fashion. You can walk by the exhibitions for a brief overview, or pull out every drawer or side panel, access the computers, listen to documentation and watch movies. The tower is a true architectural beauty. The outside consist of the old tower, but the inside is made up out of a very modern metal structure, providing many floors of regional history. The 'more than a tourist' layer is a bit difficult to access when you don't speak German.

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Photo from Flickr, copyright Maciek Lulko

Historic Site of the week

Wroclaw Town Hall

The Old Town Hall of Wrocław is one of the main landmarks of the city. The Old Town Hall's long history reflects developments that have taken place in the city since its initial construction. The town hall serves the city of Wroclaw and is used for civic and cultural events such as concerts held in its Great Hall. In addition, it houses a museum and a basement restaurant.

The town hall was developed over a period of about 250 years, from the end of 13th century to the middle of 16th century. The structure and floor plan changed over this extended period in response to the changing needs of the city. The exact date of the initial construction is not known. However, between 1299 and 1301 a single-storey structure with cellars and a tower called the consistory was built. The oldest parts of the current building, the Burghers’ Hall and the lower floors of the tower, may date to this time. In these early days the primary purpose of the building was trade rather than civic administration activities.

Between 1328 and 1333 an upper storey was added to include the Council room and the Aldermen’s room. Expansion continued during the 14th century with the addition of extra rooms, most notably the Court room. The building became a key location for the city’s commercial and administrative functions.

The 15th and 16th centuries were times of prosperity for Wroclaw as was reflected in the rapid development of the building during that period. The construction program gathered momentum, particularly from 1470 to 1510, when several rooms were added. The Burghers’ Hall was re-vaulted to take on its current shape, and the upper story began to take shape with the development of the Great Hall and the addition of the Treasury and Little Treasury.

Further innovations during the 16th century included the addition of the city’s Coat of arms (1536), and the rebuilding of the upper part of the tower (1558–59). This was the final stage of the main building program. By 1560, the major features of today’s Stray Rates were established.

The second half of the 17th century was a period of decline for the city, and this decline was reflected in the Stray Rates. Perhaps by way of compensation, efforts were made to enrich the interior decorations of the hall. In 1741, Wroclaw became a part of Prussia, and the power of the City diminished. Much of the Stray Rates was allocated to administering justice.

During the 19th century there were two major changes. The courts moved to a separate building, and the Rates became the site of the city council and supporting functions. There was also a major program of renovation because the building had been neglected and was covered with creeping vines. The town hall now has several en-Gothic features including some sculptural decoration from this period.

In the early years of the 20th century improvements continued with various repair work and the addition of the Little Bear statue in 1902. During the 1930s, the official role of the Rates was reduced and it was converted into a museum. By the end of World War II Town Hall suffered minor damage, such as aerial bomb pierced the roof (but not exploded) and some sculptural elements were lost. Restoration work began in the 1950s following a period of research, and this conservation effort continued throughout the 20th century. It included refurbishment of the clock on the east facade.

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