Location: Map
Constructed: 1237 by Friedrich and Beral (Lords of Wangen)
Runkelstein Castle is located near town of Bolzano in the South Tyrol of Italy. It was constructed on a rock cliff overlooking Talvera river that flows below in 1237 by Friedrich and Beral (Lords of Wangen). In the 14th century Runkelstein Castle was badly damaged by siege and subsequently reconstructed. Its walls were covered by beautiful Gothic frescoes. In 1893 Runkelstein Castle was donated to the municipality of Bolzano, which still owns the stronghold. In the late 20th century the structure was reconstructed to its original Medieval appearance.
The castle is located not far from Bolzano on a spur of rock (from which it owes its name: it was in fact already known as Runchenstayn in 1237) overlooking the Talvera stream at the entrance to the Val Sarentino, on the edge of the municipal area of Renon. Unlike many other castles in South Tyrol which have been heavily renovated in modern times, Castel Roncolo has essentially retained its medieval character.
The construction is traced back to 1237 with reasonable certainty by
the brothers Friedrich and Beral von Wangen (Vanga). Already in 1274 the
castle was seriously damaged by a siege by Mainardo II, count of Tyrol,
at the end of which it fell. Mainardo granted the manor to his protégé,
Gottschalk Knoger, initially a servant, who rose to become district
judge of Neumarkt. Upon the death of the daughter Agnese, the castle,
following an arbitration sentence of 1341, became the daughter of Agnese
Weirad. Only after four decades, the castle passed to other owners.
In 1385 it was bought by the brothers Franz and Niklaus Vintler of
Bolzano, who began the restructuring and (in 1388) the frescoes (whose
authors are unknown). In 1390 the chapel was consecrated. In 1419 the
castle was owned by the Bolzano nobleman Georg Metzner, nephew of Hans
Vintler. Later the castle changed hands to Sigismondo the Moneyed. For
two years - with a concession from the Tyrol - (1463-1465) it was the
seat of the prince-bishop of Trento.
The Tyrol family entrusted
the castle in 1500 to Georg von Frundsberg, the "father of the
Landsknechts". Under his care, in 1520 the powder magazine exploded,
damaging the tower, the boundary wall and part of the palace. The
caretaker himself was killed. The reconstruction work ended in 1531.
Castel Roncolo changed hands once again in 1538: now the von
Liechtensteins are the owners. From 1574 a branch of the family
(Liechtenstein-Castelcorno) moved there permanently, making some
architectural changes. The coat of arms that is still on the door bears
witness to this.
A century later the decline begins. A fire
(1672) destroyed the eastern palace, which was not rebuilt. In 1759 the
last of the Liechtenstein-Castelcornos refused the feud, which returned
under the control of the prince-bishop of Trento. In 1833 the King of
Bavaria Ludwig I stayed there, being the first to sign the guest book
which is still preserved today. Despite the interest of the German
romantics (the castle became a symbol of it), the decline continued: in
1868 a part of the summer house collapsed during the construction of the
new road to Sarentino.
Finally in 1880 the castle was bought by
Archduke John Savior of Austria and given by him to Emperor Franz
Joseph. Later the manor was renovated by Friedrich Schmidt between 1884
and 1888.
In 1893 it was donated to the municipality of Bolzano,
which still owns it today. The last renovation began in the mid-nineties
and ended in January 2000.
Inside the castle - which can be
completely visited - very little remains of the original layout.
However, it still remains a very well-preserved manor house and a visit
deserves the cycle of medieval frescoes which is the largest of those
with a profane theme: ladies and knights, naked men and animals
(bathroom); knightly scenes, ball games, hunting, fishing and dance
scenes (tournament hall); episodes from the stories of Tristan and
Isolt.
Castel Roncolo is not accessible for wheelchairs, due to a very steep ramp.