Prissiano

From the grapes of the largest vine in Europe, a special white wine is still produced today, the rare Versoaln wine

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Video : Tesimo-Prissiano as seen from above
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View from the Schönegg viewpoint on Prissiano and Grissiano, two districts of the municipality of Tesimo - below there is the Valle dell’Adige.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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The small St. Martin’s Church stands a bit apart from the centre of the village: It was mentioned by a Goswin in his Marienberg Chronicle in 1159.
Foto: TM, © Peer
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Castel del Gatto, literally Cat’s Castle, towers near the castle village, visible from afar: Between the 16th and 18th century, it was one of the most distinguished aristocratic residences.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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The Versoaln vine is an impressive sight, even more if you stand under it: The Botanic Gardens of Trauttmansdorff have taken over the sponsorship.
Foto: TM, © Peer
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The fire station is located in the centre - in addition to the castles, the Liedl, Innerbreisach and Greifenegg Residences are also worth mentioning.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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The old stone arch bridge with wooden roof right next to it, which has seen seven centuries come and go, is protected as a monument.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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Near the bridge is Fahlburg Castle, a landmark of the village: The Prissiano Forest and Castle Tour (Prissianer Wald- und Burgenrunde) leads past it.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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Fahlburg Castle, absolutely unimpressive on the outside, is one of the most beautiful Renaissance castles in South Tyrol: Czech poet and state president V. Havel (1936-2011) was a guest here.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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The Vorbichl Adventure Trail on the hill of the same name near Prissiano also has a pond and is a popular family destination all year round.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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Autumn forest around the Casatsch Ruin, the ideal time for hiking and enjoying: Törggelen, mild climate and festivals make the season interesting.
Foto: EMS, © Peer
video : Children’s adventure day in Prissiano-Tesimo

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The second main village of the municipality adjoins Tesimo: It is Prissiano (Prissian), situated a few metres lower than the neighbouring Tesimo. Apart from tourism, fruit and wine growing are still very important today. It finds a special expression at Castel del Gatto, also known as Katzenzungen Castle, where the oldest vine in Europe grows. Already in Magrè in the south of South Tyrol there is an ancient vine that seems to be even older, but no vine comes close to the dimensions of the Versoaln: From a single plant a canopy of about 300 sqm grows, impressive to look at and still productive. Every year, a few hundred bottles of Versoaln wine are produced.

Just like Castel del Gatto, today a popular venue for celebrations and weddings, many other castles and old farms characterise the landscape. Zwingenberg Castle is among them, as well as the ruins of Holz Castle and Fahlburg Castle. It is enthroned right by the village centre and houses old tiled stoves, wooden ceilings and a two-storey chapel as well as valuable baroque paintings by Stephan Kessler from the late Renaissance, but is unfortunately not accessible. You can experience these silent witnesses of the past along the Prissiano Forest and Castle Tour.

The road through the village still leads over the old narrow stone bridge across the Prissiano Stream. The covered bridge, called "Stuanbogen" in dialect, was first mentioned in 1308 AD. Temporarily, it even served as a storage place for fire brigade ladders. On the edge of the village, where the path leads downwards, there is the Vorbichl, a hill with the little Church of St. Christoph, where a prehistoric hilltop settlement was found. Today, felt artworks and information boards adorn the forest: The International Felt Art Trail and the Vorbichl Adventure Trail run here.

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