What is it about castles? Whether in a perpetual state of crumble or masterfully preserved to reveal life in the Middle Ages, they endlessly fascinate us. We get lost in their haunting beauty as much as we do in the history and legends spun from within their ramparts of stone.
With 800 castles littering South Tyrol’s mountainous landscape, it’s hard to nail down one that impresses the most. But there is one whose ability to captivate us never fails no matter how many times we let it grace our eyes: Castle Tirol (also known as “Schloss Tirol” in German and “Castel Tirolo” in Italian)
Its imposing position 2,000 feet above the valley floor demands your attention from even miles away. Bearing such a commanding presence, it’s no wonder Castle Tirol named an entire region and its people. The word “Tirol / Tyrol” can be traced back to when the Roman Empire occupied the area. “Teriolis” was the given name of a Roman stronghold near Merano.
Erected in the 1100s by the Counts of Vinschgau, who later took title as the Counts of Tyrol, its storied walls hold some of the most important historical relics and artwork in South Tyrol. In fact, the faded frescoes of its chapel include the oldest painting of the Red Eagle, South Tyrol’s coat of arms.
The Many Moods of Castle Tirol
A unique quality of Castle Tirol is that depending on the temperament of the mountains or the hour of the season, the castle’s ancient majesty transforms before your eyes. Its seemingly ever-changing character is perhaps why we find Castle Tirol so alluring.
See for yourself. Plunge into the Middle Ages with the following images. We hope they inspire you to etch the castle on your bucket list. Chisel not included.
Within the Storied Walls of Castle Tirol
As much as Castle Tirol enchants from the outside it is equally enchanting from within. The grandeur of the sweeping panorama awaiting visitors illustrates why the fortress was founded on its lofty, rocky spur.
Situated to the north of Merano, Castle Tirol peers deep into the valley basin that stretches southward to Bolzano. On its western flank, the castle watches over the Vinschgau Valley, which runs toward Switzerland.
Inside the castle lies a treasure of archaeological finds including religious and pagan figures encircling the marble portals of the castle’s chapel. These are sculpted in Romanesque-style from the 12th century. Their meaning is still not entirely clear. Nevertheless, they are fascinating to study. Their ornate detail speaks to the superb craftsmanship of long ago.
The castle is also home to the South Tyrolean Museum of History and Culture offering an intriguing walk through the history of the land from its earliest beginnings to the modern era. The exhibit signs are in German and Italian, but visitors can check out an audio guide that is in English. The museum tour lasts about 50 minutes.
Reaching Castle Tirol
The only way to reach Castle Tirol is on foot. Trust us, this is a good thing. The hike to its gates is unforgettable. If views of the castle and vineyards riddled around it do not steal your breath away then the Texel mountain group in the distance certainly will.
Before rounding a corner to the castle you will pass through a 260-foot stone tunnel built in the 17th century. The entire walk takes 20-30 minutes depending on how much you pause to snap pictures or simply savor the historical and natural beauty all around.
TIP: The castle can also be reached from Merano by walking the Tappeiner Promenade. This route takes 2-3 hours but is what we consider the most enchanting walk in Italy. It is our favorite way to reach Castle Tirol.
When to Visit Castle Tirol
Castle Tirol is open to the public from mid-March to early-December. Visit the castle’s official website to confirm dates and hours. Admission fees are € 7 per adult. Children and senior citizens receive discounted rates.
If you visit the castle during one of the weekends in December when it is hosting its traditional Christmas market, you can enjoy the castle at no charge. Seeing it at this time of year is especially charming.
Autumn is also a special time to visit as a wine-stand off the Falknerweg offers the season’s new wine, which you can sip under a canopy of grape vines while gazing at the castle and beyond. Sounds a touch romantic doesn’t it? Afterward, treat yourself to a hearty South Tyrolean meal at Biergarten am Schlossweg — a panoramic beer garden nearby.
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You are right, we all seem to be fascinated with castles. I had no idea there are so many castles in South Tyrol. I can only imagine how beautiful each one of them must be in that gorgeous landscape. The storied walls of Castle Tirol remind me of some of the castles I’ve seen in Transylvania. Very similar construction.
Castle Tirol looks amazing! I love the pictures in your post. It’s like a fairytale picture book. I’d love to go in and explore the museum in there. I think it’s cool to see some of the pagan history of Europe, before the advent of Christianity.
What a majestic castle, indeed!!! And the views from inside are just spectacular, beautiful pictures. 😍😍 I didn’t even know that South Tyrol’s had that many castles but can see why this one is your favourite 😉
I had no idea there are so many castles in South Tyrol. I love castle hunting! This is gorgeous against the mountains and visiting during the Christmas markets be extra special. Thanks for the info
You’re welcome Sherianne! We’ve just scratched the surface on the number of castles to explore in South Tyrol. We’ll continue sharing our finds to help you and others make your own visit!
This is so gorgeous – from inside out. The finds make the interiors even more fun to explore while the views on the outside – they are just mindblowing. Love your captures.
You made this castle look very fascinating and unique. I’ve seen many a castles from 2 years of East-West European travels and I never tire of seeing one in a new light. Seems to look more like a northern Europe style castle than the Italian ones I’ve seen. I’m hell bent on going there now. Someday!
Thank you Adonis! Castle Tirol is definitely a northern European style castle despite being in Italy. South Tyrol has a dominate Germanic heritage that influences everything from architecture to cuisine and customs. Hope you get a chance to visit!
I like the setting of Tirol Castle. I am not sure in what season the castle’s setting looks the best. Autumn setting looks gorgeous, winter magical, spring like a fairytale and summer … well, I can imagine how it looks in summer. Or, maybe I should stop imagining and should visit it instead. After all, Tirol is not far from my Croatia. 🙂
Make the visit Milijana! You will love South Tyrol!
I agree, I’m fascinated by castles whether they’re in great condition or crumbling ruins. The setting for Castle Tirol makes it look especially magical, definitely one that I’d love to visit
That view of the Castle Tyrol would draw me in for sure. So good to see that the interior can be visited. The museum must be an interesting spot to visit. Good to know that there are two different paths to get to the castle. I was intrigued by the thought of the “most enchanting walk in Italy”.
I love visiting castles and this one is amazing perched on this cliff, it looks stunning. I’m sure fall time is ideal with all the changes in color and the fantastic views from above, definitely would love to visit some day.
Thanks for reading our post Noel! Hope you get a chance to explore Castle Tirol one day.
I am highly intrigued by the pictures of Castle Tirol. It is surely going in my bucket list. How enigmatic the place is. You’ve got some flabbergasting pictures of the castle. Thanks for providing the information of how to get to the castle and when to do that too.
Great to hear that you are adding Castle Tirol to your bucket list! If you have any questions as you plan your adventure to South Tyrol, just reach out to us.