Reifenstein Castle

P3

Reifenstein Castle

Reifenstein Castle ( Italian: Castel Tasso ) lies on a rocky hill in the upper castle Eisacktal in free field at Sterzing in South Tyrol.

History

From 1110, the castle was given to the Lords of Stilfes fief. 1470 Duke Sigmund sold the fief to the Teutonic Knights. Until the dissolution of the Order in 1813, the castle remained in the possession of the Order and was further expanded and strengthened military. As of 1813, the Princes of Thurn and Taxis took control of the castle.

Reifenstein was in its history never conquered and destroyed and therefore is considered today as the best preserved castle in South Tyrol.

Plant

1110 began the first construction of a castle. A massive quadrangular Donjon was surrounded by a circular wall. The outer castle guards the entrance to the main courtyard. The door is secured by a portcullis. With the appearance of the great castles at the beginning of the 16th century also changed the appearance of the castles. Instead of the Donjon as a residential tower and battle now a Palas was around this ruins created. Thanks to the hillside location the establishment of a moth was unnecessary. In Palas are among other things medieval, wooden Schlafverschläge, a bath-house, the castle kitchen, a lounge with a late Gothic rafters and the so-called Green Room with wall paintings and a carved chapel grid. Also on the castle hill is the church of St. Zeno, in which Baiuvarii tree coffins from the 4th - 8th century AD were found.