Salorno Castle

Salorno Castle - "Haderburg" in German, "Castel Salorno" in Italian -, located on a soaring rock spur above the eponymous village of Salorno in the southern part of South Tyrol, dates back to Medieval times. The castle marks the lingual border of German (or bilingual) and only Italian speaking inhabitants, and therefore of South Tyrol and the Trentino. The building is one of the most important monuments of South Tyrol. Salorno Castle was built by the Earls of Salorno in the 13th century. Thereupon it repeatedly changed hands, first the castle was in possession of the Lords of Tyrol, in 1284 the castle was handed on to Meinhard, Duke of Carinthia.

In the 14th century, the House of Habsburg owned the castle complex. In 1514, under the rule of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor, the complex was enlarged and renewed. Several decades after, Salorno Castle lost its strategic significance and started to decay. Since 1648, however, the castle is owned by the Venetian Earls Zenobio-Albrizzi and their descendants.

Still today, Salorno Castle is a really impressive complex, but it is not inhabited. The current owner, baron Ernesto Rubin de Cervin Albrizzi, renovated and consolidated the castle complex by means of public funds. For some years now, Salorno Castle has been reopened for the public and houses the castle tavern "zum 18. Fass". And how to reach Salorno Castle? It is accessible via the almost 1 km long steep "Path of Visions" in a 20 minute walk.