Location: Bolzano- Bozen Map
Constructed: 1279
Prosels Castle is located in South Tyrol province in Italy. The citadel was constructed in 1279. Today Prosels Castle is open during summer months, Christmas holidays and other chosen days. Today it is open to public and houses an extensive collection of weapons and knight's armor. Additionally it has a collection of paintings.
The castle is a splendid example of Gothic art, and its construction
dates back to the times of Maximilian I of Habsburg in 1517, as written
above the entrance portal. In reality, the lords of Fiè, administrators
of the bishops of Bressanone, already built the manor in the year 1200.
The most famous owner was Count Leonhard von Völs (1458-1530), who
lived in the castle's heyday.
The South Tyrolean poet Oswald von
Wolkenstein also stayed there for some time.
In Italian it is
sometimes referred to as Castel Colonna. This is because the Völs (Fiè),
at a certain point, under Leonardo II, began to add the surname Colonna
to their own. The reason is not clear: for some, the lords of Fiè would
have been a branch of the Roman Colonna family who arrived in Tyrol in
the 12th century; for others, however, Leonardo I of Fié would have
participated in the battle of Lepanto alongside Marcantonio Colonna,
stating that his family was originally from the Colonna of Tusculum.
According to a third version, Marcantonio Colonna would have adopted
Leonardo, in order to be able to flaunt belonging to a noble Roman
family. More probably, however, Leonardo di Fiè simply asked and
obtained the right to add that of the Colonna family to his own name.
From 1804 to 1978 the castle changed ownership many times and
experienced some periods of decline followed by periods of restoration.
Eventually, however, the castle was abandoned to itself.
Only in
1981 a group of passionate citizens of Fiè allo Sciliar founded the
Kuratorium Schloss Prösels S.r.l., and thus began the renovation works
which lasted until 1982.
Guided tours are available in the summer
months. In addition, numerous demonstrations and cultural events and
exhibitions are often held.
At the entrance to the Castle there
is a monument dedicated to the burning of witches, historical events
dating back to the 16th century in the Municipality of Fiė allo Sciliar
of which the procedural documents are still found.
Collection of weapons and armor
Painting collection formerly of
the "Batzenhäusl" restaurant in Bolzano
Collection of modern
paintings
Loggia with pointed arches and some frescoes in the
courtyard
Powder magazine (Pulverturm) from medieval times