Castel Fontana

Beneath the majestic Castel Tyrol, at the top of a rock spur, there is a mighty castle complex. Castel Fontana - "Brunnenburg" in German (literally translated Fountain Castle) - is named after a nearby fountain. It was constructed in the 13th century by the strain of the Tarant, but started deteriorating in the oncoming centuries. Already around 1600 AD it was described as ancient and decayed. At the beginning of the 20th century, it passed into private hands and was restored. The castle became famous at the end of the 1950s, when the American poet Ezra Pound (1885 - 1972) started living there. From 1962 to his death in 1972 he was registered as citizen of Tirolo. Today, there is an Erza Pound memorial site in the castle.

However, at Castel Fontana there is also an Agriculture Museum. The museum, under the direction of Dr. Siegfried Rachewiltz, is dedicated to ethnology, ethnography and folk arts. Moreover it makes visitors familiar with the processing of crops and bread making, the preparation of butter and cheese and much more, and illustrates the hard everyday life of South Tyrolean farmers in former periods. Also almost forgotten professions such as shoemaking and weaving are presented, preventing these activities from falling into oblivion.

Finally, the castle is also home to farm animals, above all an attraction for kids. Goats, donkeys and rabbits can be admired, but also some ancient and very rare pet species such as Magalitsa pigs and Racka sheep. And how to reach Castel Fontana? From the parking space at the village of Tirolo (Dorf Tirol) you can walk to this impressive castle in 10-minutes.