Torre Castle

On the slopes of Mt. Cima Muta near Tyrol Castle stands an estate that used to be known as Platzleid

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Several castles in one picture: the mighty Tyrol Castle, below it Fontana Castle and, in the background, Torre Castle in the middle of it all.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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Torre Castle is located in a panoramic position above the Merano valley basin: It was built as a residential tower in the 11th century.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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Above it towers Mt. Cima Muta, the 2,291 m high south-eastern cornerstone of the Tessa Group, on the slopes of which you can find the Muta Farms.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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Today, Torre Castle is home to a restaurant with a panoramic terrace - the farm building, the barn next to it, has been converted into a hotel.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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The Via del Castello road takes you on foot from Tirolo towards Torre Castle and then as a circular tour to the Thurner Schlössl and back again.
Foto: RD, © Peer
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Almost done… the walk first takes you past Tyrol Castle and the Tirolo Earth Pyramids: Look to the right before you reach the castle!
Foto: RD, © Peer
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San Pietro di Tirolo, the village where the castle is located, has another building worth seeing: the parish church with its precious frescoes.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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The “Thurm Platzleid” became something big: In the 16th century the south wing was added and then in the 18th century the north wing.
Foto: AT, © Peer
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A last look on Torre Castle: It was already in the hands of the Heustadel, Katzpöck, von Planta, Eyrl, Rottenpuecher and Wittenbach families.
Foto: AT, © Peer

Around the same time when the ancestral castle of the Counts of Tyrol - Tyrol Castle - was built, a residential tower was erected to the west of it, the "Thurm Platzleid". It was the 11th century. Some time later, the estate was expanded and given as a fief to the treasurer of the Counts of Tyrol. In 1478, the name Thurnstein was then mentioned in writing for the first time.

Today, Torre Castle (Schloss Thurnstein) is one of the many castles in the Merano region, a proud estate that is easily accessible and has been owned by the same family since the turn of the 17th century. For a century, the old walls have housed an inn where the nobles went in and out. Today, it invites you to enjoy Mediterranean delicacies, Tyrolean specialities and Napoleon Wine in the farmhouse parlour, in the magnificent hall or on the terrace with a panoramic view.

The farm building next to it has been converted into a small hotel. And how can you reach the castle? A small road leads uphill to San Pietro di Tirolo and directly past the castle. The walk from the centre of Tirolo village is also beautiful. It leads along the Via del Castello or Schlossweg - that's to say Castle Road - past Tyrol Castle to San Pietro and Torre Castle. Afterwards, a circular route through the orchards takes you along the Via Laurin road to the Thurner Schlössl, also known as Castle Torre, a smaller castle which stands 2 km away. Via the Via Gnaid road to the left, the route finally leads along the main road back to the starting point. The entire tour takes about 2.5 hours.