Castel Prösels

Italy, Italy

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Castel Prösels, also known as Prösels Castle or Castello di Presule, is a striking Gothic-style castle located in South Tyrol, Italy, on a high plain beneath the Schlern mountain near the municipality of Völs am Schlern.

The castle's origins date back to around 1200 and it was initially built by the noble Lords of Völs, who were servants of the Bishop of Brixen. The current Renaissance form of the castle was largely created in the early 16th century by Leonhard von Völs, an influential governor of Tyrol, who used wealth and noble marriages to expand and embellish it.

Historically, the castle was briefly occupied during the Peasants' War of 1525 and is also notorious for witch trials that took place in the region, tying it to local folklore about witches. After falling into disrepair through the centuries and changing hands several times, the castle was restored and opened to the public for tours, concerts, and exhibitions starting in the early 1980s.

Today, it remains a cultural and historical landmark with guided tours revealing its rich past, architectural beauty, and a notable collection of weaponry, set in picturesque surroundings that attract visitors interested in history and medieval heritage.