Castel Tasso towers over a rocky hill, watching over Pruno and the nearby Vipiteno Golf Club
Image gallery: Pruno
Just before you see the meadows of the Vipiteno Golf Club on your left on the way to the Brennero, you will find the small village of Pruno, which consists of a few houses and the Reifenstein industrial area. The hamlet belongs to the municipality of Campo di Trens in the Upper Valle Isarco. Clearly visible from all around, Tasso Castle towers over a rocky hill and is open to visitors.
Medieval sleeping berths in the keep, the Gothic chapel screen in the Green Hall, the old castle kitchen, the bathhouse and the torture chamber tell visitors of the times when the Lords of Stilfes and the Teutonic Order ruled here. The castle was never conquered, which is why it is now considered one of the oldest and best-preserved castles in South Tyrol.
Also part of the complex is the Chapel of St. Zeno in the woods, below which Bavarian tree-trunk coffins dating from the 4th to 8th century AD were found. At the foot of the rocky hill, climbers can tackle the routes of the Reifenstein climbing garden: It is one of the climbing gardens in South Tyrol. By car, it is only a few minutes to Vipiteno and the Monte Cavallo hiking and skiing area.
On foot, a walk will take you to Pietra Castle on the other side of the valley, or you can hike along the Trens High Route to the centuries-old pilgrimage site of Maria Trens. From Pruno (Elzenbaum), the road climbs in curves towards the Passo di Pénnes, which connects the Valle Isarco with the Val Sarentino. Passing through the hamlets of Dosso and Novale Basso, the mountain road ascends to the 2,211-metre-high pass, which is very popular with cyclists and motorcyclists in summer.
