The impressive Trostburg Castle in Valle Isarco hosts the South Tyrolean Castles Museum. This one of the most famous and splendid castles of South Tyrol is located on an eastern hillside on a natural rocky promontory. The history of the castle dates back to the 12th century - it has been mentioned for the first time in 1173 AD as place of residence of a certain “Cunrat de Trosperch” (Konrad of Trostberg), descending from the Lords of Castelrotto. At 1290 the castle was passed on from the Lords of Velturno to the Lords of Tyrol, who put the castle in pawn. For about 600 years the castle remained in possession of the Earls von Wolkenstein-Trostburg, one of the main nobilities of Tyrol.
Between the 14th and the 16th century the castle was fundamentally enlarged and once more in the 17th century, under Engelhard Dietrich of the nobility Wolkenstein-Trostburg. In 1981 the castle was passed on into the hands of the “Südtiroler Burgeninstitut” (South Tyrolean Castle Institute) and thus was saved from decay. This institution strives for maintaining the special character of the castle and for making the castle available for public. Since 2005 Castel Trostburg has been hosting the South Tyrolean Castles Museum.
Still today the castle is in a good state thanks to restoration and maintenance works. There are Roman archways, majestic panels and rooms dating back to the 16th and 17th century as well as mouldings of Renaissance in the interior of Castel Trostburg. Worth to be visited are also the Gothic room with panels and richly decorated beam ceiling as well as the library, which is one of the most famous of its day.
References:Kakesbeck is one of the largest medieval fortifications in Münsterland and the oldest castle in Lüdinghausen. The imposingly grown complex originated in 1120 as a motte, a small hilltop tower castle. After numerous changes of ownership, the castle was extended onto two islands, but it was not until the 14th century that it underwent significant alterations and extensions under the von Oer family. The estate experienced its heyday in the middle of the 18th century, when it covered an area of almost one square kilometre and consisted of five further outer castles in addition to the core castle, which were secured by ramparts and moats.
The well-maintained condition of the castle today is thanks to the late Wilfried Grewing, the former lord of the castle. The foundation named after him has been particularly committed to preserving the property since 2020.