Tirolo Castle

Of mighty counts, emperors and birds of prey

On a majestic hill high above Merano towers Castel Tirolo, the family seat of the Counts of Tyrol. It was this magnificent castle that dominated not only the near-by hamlet of Tirolo but the entire region of Tyrol. Did you know for instance that South Tyrol got its name from this castle?

Built in 1140 by the Counts of Tyrol, it soon became the most important castle in all of Tyrol. Its time of prosperity began with the Austrian countess Margarethe Maultasch, ended however when the seat of the counts was moved from Merano to the city of Innsbruck. Today, the strong wall surrounding Castel Tirolo is among the oldest still preserved ones all over.

Nowadays the castle hosts the South Tyrolean Museum of Cultural and Provincial History, illustrating the history of Tyrol from its beginnings to the present. A museum tour includes the southern palace with its famous Romanesque portals, the frescoes in the double chapel, the wedding chamber of Margarethe Maultasch and the former dungeon, where the history of the 20th century is depicted on twenty different levels.

Afterwards you might visit the fascinating birds of prey and watch them flying as there is a bird care centre right near-by.

Opening hours:
from the middle of March-November 30 from 10 am-5 pm;
in August until 6 pm;
closed on Mondays.

Castel Tirolo
Via del Castello 24
I - 39019 Tirolo
phone: +39 0473 220221