Castello di Castelfondo

The Castello di Castelfondo near Castelfondo was once scene of the most important political battles of the Val di Non and seat of the Tyrolean jurisdiction of the valley.

Although the castle was first mentioned in historic documents of the 12th century, when its impressive keep was built, it is supposed to be of Roman origins. As of the 14th century, the castle was enriched with new buildings under the control of the Rottenburg and the Thun. The elegant arcade composed of four round arches in the inner courtyard was built in 1492.

The monument houses an armoury, a library, an archive and some decorated rooms: the "Camera del foro" (the court room), the "Stanza del camino" (the fireplace room), the "Camera longa" (the long room), the "Camera di Don Chisciotte" (the room of Don Quixote) and the "Camera dei vescovi" (the Bishops room). The church "chiesa della Natività della Beata Vergine Maria", in the vicinity of the castle, is dedicated to Virgin Mary. It was restored in 1528 and its apsis was decorated with frescoes of various time periods. Next to the little church there is a crenellated 25 meter high circular tower, known as the "Torre di Santa Maria sul dosso di Castelfondo" which was built by Sigismund, Archduke of Austria.