Castles in the Alto Adige - Do you have a favorite?

Hi,

We tried to visit Reifenstein twice, but no luck getting a tour. You need 4 people minimum. If 4 don't show, no tours. We had ourselves, 2 adults, and one other person waiting both times, and I even offered to pay for a 4th person, who of course, was not there. No tours. Wouldn't go back.

Our favorite is Castle Churburg/Castel Coira in the Val Venosta/Vinschgau. No English tours, but the girl who led the tour tried her best to fill us in with her limited English. Great medieval castle with or without English. Next would be Kastelbell in the same valley, the Val Venosta/Vinschgau. Really wanted to visit Reinhold Messner's Castle Juval, but didn't get the time.

The Val Venosta/Vinschgau basically starts just west of Meran/Merano.

Paul

http://www.suedtirolerland.it/en/highlights/castles/

Castel Tures, Castel Pietra, Castel Tasso (Reifenstein)

Thank you Paul and Roberto. The castles you have mentioned are beautiful and located right in the areas where we'll be driving! I will share them with my family so maybe they can help me pick 1 or 2 for this trip, I wish we could explore all of them!

Paul, that is sad that you weren't able to see Reifenstein, I noticed the TripAdvisor reviews had some similar comments. It would be frustrating to make the drive out and not be able to see the castle!

Yes, it was disappointing not to get in Reifenstein. The second attempt, on a different trip, my wife had a couple of broken toes and had a cast on her foot. It's a pretty steep, winding walk to reach Reifenstein from the small parking lot. It took us a long time to reach it. Even though the man who was waiting with us explained to the woman what a hardship it was for my wife to reach the castle, and that I was willing to pay for the extra person, she would not let us in. She insisted we must be four people, not three people paying for four people. She then closed the door on us. Go figure. I wouldn't try again if it were free and guaranteed to get the tour. Yup, still bitter when I think about it.

In the Vinschgau/Val Venosta, there are plenty of castles besides the ones I mentioned, including Castle Tirol/Tirolo, which is very close to Meran/Merano and in the village that the Austrian Tirol region is named for, as this area was once part of Austria until Italy got it after WWl.

If you are in the area, check out the small, medieval, still intact, old walled town of Glurns/Glorenza. Just over the Swiss border at Mustair, is the Kloster St. John. Very worthwhile to visit. You won't need a Swiss Vignette to visit, as it is a very short distance on a local road from the Italian border. It takes about an hour to drive from Meran/Merano.

Paul

Loved Trostburg though it is quite the steep hike to get there. I hiked up with my Jack Russell, Thor and did not think of going on the tour, but a German couple asked me to go with them and offered to translate. Thor was allowed to go on the tour as well, wonderful place.