blick auf rodeneck vill kirche und schloss rodenegg
blick auf rodeneck vill kirche und schloss rodenegg

Rodengo Castle

The fortified castle, located high above the Rienza Gorge in Rodengo, captivates due to its vigorous appearance

Rodengo Castle - "Schloss Rodenegg" in German, "Castel Rodengo" in Italian - is located between Sciaves and Rio Pusteria in the municipality of Rodengo in the Valle Isarco. It sits enthroned on a small rock outcrop, steeply descending into the gorge of the Rienza river. Rodengo Castle is one of the most majestic fortresses of its time in South Tyrol, and you will be astonished by its position and by the large number of rooms and cellars. Friedrich I of Rodank built the castle in 1140. The Lords of Rodank were significant ministerials and up to the extinction of this house around 1300, the castle was in possession of this family. Thereupon Rodengo Castle was subject to territorial town administration for 200 years, until it passed on to the Counts of Wolkenstein-Rodenegg.

In the 16th century, the castle was expanded by the family of the famous minne singer Oswald von Wolkenstein and transformed into a majestic building. Still today, offsprings of this family are in possession of the castle and parts are even inhabited, surrounded by a gorgeous castle garden. Inside the antique walls there is a museum. The majority of the furniture of the showrooms date back to late Renaissance. Unique and capturing is above all the famous "Iwein Cycle", which was discovered and layed open only in 1972. This fresco cycle to the Iwein epos of Hartmann von Aue represents the oldest profane mural paintings in the German speaking area. Probably it was painted between 1200 and 1220 AD. The 11 paintings, which can be admired in the tap room of the castle, narrate the legend of Iwein, one of 12 knights at the court of King Artus.

Another highlight, however, is the so-called "Lautfresserloch" - a narrow dungeon where in the 17th century Matthias Perger, an accused warlock condemned to the stake, was imprisoned. Because of his preferences for soup - which in Tyrolean dialect is simply called "Lauteres", that's to say "fluid" - he was named "Lauterfresser". And how to reach Rodengo Castle? It is located close to the SS49, the Val Pusteria Road, and therefore easily accessible. From the parking space near the church in direction of Rodengo, a path leads in only a few-minutes walk to the castle.

Contact info

Opening times

  • Sat 03 Jun closed
  • Sun 04 Jun 11:30 - 12:30 14:30 - 15:30
  • Mon 05 Jun 11:30 - 12:30 14:30 - 15:30
  • Tue 06 Jun 11:30 - 12:30 14:30 - 15:30
  • Wed 07 Jun 11:30 - 12:30 14:30 - 15:30
  • Thu 08 Jun 11:30 - 12:30 14:30 - 15:30
  • Fri 09 Jun 11:30 - 12:30 14:30 - 15:30

Despite careful control we cannot guarantee the correctness of the provided data.

Full timetables
Despite careful control we cannot guarantee the correctness of the provided data.

Guided castle tours - spring 2023 (05/01/2023 - 06/30/2023)

  • Mon 11:30 - 12:30 14:30 - 15:30
  • Tue 11:30 - 12:30 14:30 - 15:30
  • Wed 11:30 - 12:30 14:30 - 15:30
  • Thu 11:30 - 12:30 14:30 - 15:30
  • Fri 11:30 - 12:30 14:30 - 15:30
  • Sat closed
  • Sun 11:30 - 12:30 14:30 - 15:30

Labor Day 2023 (05/01/2023) 11:30 - 12:30 14:30 - 15:30

Whit Monday 2023 (05/29/2023) 11:30 - 12:30 14:30 - 15:30

Republic Day 2023 (06/02/2023) 11:30 - 12:30 14:30 - 15:30

Guided castle tours - summer 2023 (07/02/2023 - 08/31/2023)

  • Mon 11:30 - 12:30 14:30 - 15:30 16:00 - 17:00
  • Tue 11:30 - 12:30 14:30 - 15:30 16:00 - 17:00
  • Wed 11:30 - 12:30 14:30 - 15:30 16:00 - 17:00
  • Thu 11:30 - 12:30 14:30 - 15:30 16:00 - 17:00
  • Fri 11:30 - 12:30 14:30 - 15:30 16:00 - 17:00
  • Sat closed
  • Sun 11:30 - 12:30 14:30 - 15:30 16:00 - 17:00

Feast of the Assumption 2023 (08/15/2023) 11:30 - 12:30 14:30 - 15:30 16:00 - 17:00

Guided castle tours - autumn 2023 (09/01/2023 - 10/01/2023)

  • Mon 11:30 - 12:30 14:30 - 15:30
  • Tue 11:30 - 12:30 14:30 - 15:30
  • Wed 11:30 - 12:30 14:30 - 15:30
  • Thu 11:30 - 12:30 14:30 - 15:30
  • Fri 11:30 - 12:30 14:30 - 15:30
  • Sat closed
  • Sun 11:30 - 12:30 14:30 - 15:30

Admission

€ 8.00 adults
€ 6.00 groups (15 and more persons)
€ 4.00 young people (10-18 years)
€ 3.00 children (6-10 years)

free for children under 6 years
free with the Almencard PLUS

More information

Rodengo Castle is accessible only during a guided tour (approx. 1 hour): May to October daily at 11.30 am and 2.30 pm, in high summer also at 4 pm, closed on Saturdays.

Suggest an edit/correction

Our editorial staff is always committed to ensuring the highest quality and accuracy of the information we publish. If you have suggestions to improve this page you can send them to us using the form below. Thank you in advance!

Close

Suggested accommodations

Tips and more infos