Roncolo Castle

A medieval castle rises northwest of Bolzano high above the entrance of the Val Sarentino valley. It is Roncolo Castle (Schloss Runkelstein, in German) which houses a real treasure: a stunning fresco cycle with knight's tales and profane scenes of court life and during hunting. The history of the castle dates back to 1237 when it was erected by the Lords of Vanga as a fortress and control point of the trading routes. The name, however, derives from the porphyry rock called "runchenstayn" on which it was built. In 1385, the brothers Franz and Niklaus Vintler, rich tradesmen from Bolzano, purchased the property and hat it decorated with precious frescoes. In the course of time it saw many different owners and survived expansions, fires, lightning strikes and explosions.

In the 19th century, Josef von Görres recognised the value of the historical paintings and told Ludwig I of Bavaria, who had them examined. In 1868, the northern wall collapsed and destroyed a great part of the valuable frescoes. In a spectacular operation the wall with the frescos was rebuilt. Finally in 1893, the then owner Franz Joseph I of Austria solemnly handed it over to the citizens of Bolzano (Bozen). Today Roncolo Castle which features also a tavern is in the hands of the Town of Bolzano and can be reached in a half-hour walk from the town centre.