Ossana Castle

Ossana, Italy

St. Michael castle in Ossana stands on a rocky outcrop. The first written record dates back to 1191. The castle was owned by the Prince Bishops of Trento, Counts of Tyrol-Gorizia, de Federici, Heydorf and Bertelli families. Today is well-preserved with an imposing tower about 25 meters high.

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Address

Via G. Prati 5, Ossana, Italy
See all sites in Ossana

Details

Founded: 12th century
Category: Castles and fortifications in Italy

Rating

4.4/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby


Trento Cathedral (39,9 km)
Rocca Castle (47,8 km)
Trauttmansdorff Castle and Gardens (52,1 km)
Buonconsiglio Castle (39,9 km)
Santa Maria Maggiore Church (39,7 km)
Palazzo delle Albere (39,8 km)
Beseno Castle (50,8 km)
St. Nicholas' Church (52 km)
Saint Andrea Church (49,9 km)

User Reviews

George On tour (2 years ago)
Thanks to its position on an inaccessible promontory above the village of Ossana and along the trade route of the Passo Tonale, between the Trentino and the upper area of Brescia, the castle enjoyed complete civil and criminal administration under the Episcopal Curia. It is supposed, that the complex dates back to the Langobards, but the first written evidence dates back to 1191. Several noble families owned the castle, among them also the Prince-Bishops of Trento, the Counts of Gorizia-Tyrol and Bertha von Suttner, the Nobel Peace Prize winner of 1905. The mighty keep, about 25 m high, is not only the most characteristic element but also the best preserved of the entire complex. Parts of the castle are also a drawbridge, a fortified porch, guard rooms and a prison
Dani KING (2 years ago)
Amazing!!!!
Giovani Rissi (3 years ago)
Place of historical interest. Open spaces with snow and Christmas market.
Andrea Spallanzani (4 years ago)
Beautiful castle with a spectacular view of the valley and the mountains.
Pam Resner (4 years ago)
Very cool place to visit. Had very unique diorama about Christmas during WWI. You can still see carvings in the tower from WWI soldiers and earlier. Plenty of areas to explore around the upper walls and tower. Very friendly and helpful staff.
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Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Most beautiful castles in Lithuania
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Historic Site of the week

Glimmingehus

Glimmingehus is the best preserved medieval stronghold in Scandinavia. It was built 1499-1506, during an era when Scania formed a vital part of Denmark, and contains many defensive arrangements of the era, such as parapets, false doors and dead-end corridors, 'murder-holes' for pouring boiling pitch over the attackers, moats, drawbridges and various other forms of death traps to surprise trespassers and protect the nobles against peasant uprisings. The lower part of the castle's stone walls are 2.4 meters (94 inches) thick and the upper part 1.8 meters (71 inches).

Construction was started in 1499 by the Danish knight Jens Holgersen Ulfstand and stone-cutter-mason and architect Adam van Düren, a North German master who also worked on Lund Cathedral. Construction was completed in 1506.

Ulfstand was a councillor, nobleman and admiral serving under John I of Denmark and many objects have been uncovered during archeological excavations that demonstrate the extravagant lifestyle of the knight's family at Glimmingehus up until Ulfstand's death in 1523. Some of the most expensive objects for sale in Europe during this period, such as Venetian glass, painted glass from the Rhine district and Spanish ceramics have been found here. Evidence of the family's wealth can also be seen inside the stone fortress, where everyday comforts for the knight's family included hot air channels in the walls and bench seats in the window recesses. Although considered comfortable for its period, it has also been argued that Glimmingehus was an expression of "Knighthood nostalgia" and not considered opulent or progressive enough even to the knight's contemporaries and especially not to later generations of the Scanian nobility. Glimmingehus is thought to have served as a residential castle for only a few generations before being transformed into a storage facility for grain.

An order from Charles XI to the administrators of the Swedish dominion of Scania in 1676 to demolish the castle, in order to ensure that it would not fall into the hands of the Danish king during the Scanian War, could not be executed. A first attempt, in which 20 Scanian farmers were ordered to assist, proved unsuccessful. An additional force of 130 men were sent to Glimmingehus to execute the order in a second attempt. However, before they could carry out the order, a Danish-Dutch naval division arrived in Ystad, and the Swedes had to abandon the demolition attempts. Throughout the 18th century the castle was used as deposit for agricultural produce and in 1924 it was donated to the Swedish state. Today it is administered by the Swedish National Heritage Board.

On site there is a museum, medieval kitchen, shop and restaurant and coffee house. During summer time there are several guided tours daily. In local folklore, the castle is described as haunted by multiple ghosts and the tradition of storytelling inspired by the castle is continued in the summer events at the castle called "Strange stories and terrifying tales".

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