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Prösels Castle today

Italy · Restored

Prösels Castle

Castello di Presule

Prösels Castle (Castello di Presule) is a late-medieval Gothic castle on the high plain beneath the Schlern in South Tyrol, first recorded c.1279 and largely rebuilt by Leonhard of Völs in the late 15th century. It preserves a central palace with an old Romanesque archway and a decorative arcade. The castle today has been restored and is open to guided visits and cultural events.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1500

Today

Restored

As it stood in 1500

What Prösels Castle looked like in its prime.

Perched on a high alpine plain beneath the Schlern, the castle presents a pale plastered central palace with small rectangular windows and a tall, square main tower capped by a steep, dark slate pyramidal roof. A lower cylindrical defensive tower with a crenellated stone parapet and a small tiled conical roof projects from one side; thick curtain walls of pale stone enclose an inner courtyard. An arcaded gallery on the palace façade carries painted frescoes; doorways include an older Romanesque archway. Trees and pasture sit below the walls.

Its story

The story of Prösels Castle.

The lords of Völs, feudatories of the Bishopric of Brixen, are believed to have built a castle here, on the high plain below the Schlern, by about 1200. The Gothic castle seen today was built by Leonhard of Völs, born 1458, and preserves a central palace with an old Romanesque archway and a decorative arcade.

In Italian the castle is sometimes called Castel Colonna, because around the time of Leonhard II the Völs family began adding the Colonna name to their own. The explanations vary: descent from a branch of the Colonnas who came to Tyrol in the twelfth century; Leonhard II affirming his origins while fighting alongside Marcantonio Colonna at the Battle of Lepanto; or an adoption by Marcantonio to give Leonhard membership of the Roman dynasty, speculation rather than record.

The castle remained in the family's hands until its last member, Felix, Freiherr von Völs, died childless in 1810. Restored, it now opens for guided visits in summer and at Christmas, and hosts concerts, exhibitions and theatrical performances.

Step inside

6 places to explore in 1500.

The record describes 6 distinct spots at Prösels Castle, including 2 interiors: romanesque archway (entrance), arcaded gallery with frescoes. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Approach from the high plain (exterior)Romanesque archway (entrance)Main square tower and palace façadeLower cylindrical defensive tower and parapetArcaded gallery with frescoesInner courtyard (ward)

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The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1500, a photoreal reconstruction that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.

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Whose castle

Clans who held Prösels Castle.

The families that held Prösels Castle for a decade or more across its history, follow a name to its clan.

  • Völs

    Seat of the lords of Völs from about 1200 until the last of the line, Felix, Freiherr von Völs, died childless in 1810.

Questions about Prösels Castle

What is the history of Prösels Castle?

Prösels Castle began as a medieval stronghold raised by the lords of Völs, feudatories of the Bishopric of Brixen, around the 13th century. It was first named in a document from 1279. Leonhard of Völs built the Gothic castle seen today in the late 15th century; after the family line ended in 1810, the castle declined before restoration was completed in 1982.

What is inside Prösels Castle?

Inside Prösels Castle are a central palace, an old Romanesque archway and an arcaded gallery with frescoes. The interior spaces also include a medieval gunpowder tower, a collection of weapons and suits of armour, paintings from the Batzenhäusl restaurant collection, and a modern art collection. The gallery has pointed arches and some frescoes in the courtyard.

Why was Prösels Castle built, and what was it used for?

Prösels Castle was built to serve as a fortified seat for the lords of Völs, who administered the Bishopric of Brixen. Leonhard of Völs later expanded it as a Gothic castle and residence. Its present use includes guided visits and cultural events such as concerts, exhibitions and theatrical performances.

Where is Prösels Castle?

Prösels Castle stands on the high plain below the Schlern in South Tyrol, within the municipal boundaries of Völs am Schlern. The castle is in the administrative territory of Völs am Schlern, in the area known in Italian as Fiè allo Sciliar. It lies on an alpine plain beneath the Schlern mountain.

When was Prösels Castle built?

Prösels Castle originated around the 13th century, while the Gothic castle seen today was built in the late 15th century. It was first recorded in 1279, and the site’s later form is associated with Leonhard of Völs, born in 1458. The castle’s present form also includes Gothic and Renaissance elements attributed to the early 16th century.

Which family or clan held Prösels Castle?

The Völs family held Prösels Castle from about 1200 until Felix, Freiherr von Völs, died childless in 1810. It was the seat of the lords of Völs, who were feudatories of the Bishopric of Brixen. The family later began adding the Colonna name to its own, which is why the castle was sometimes called Castel Colonna.

What did Prösels Castle look like in its prime?

In its prime, Prösels Castle had a pale plastered central palace with small rectangular windows and a tall square tower under a steep dark slate pyramidal roof. A lower cylindrical defensive tower projected from one side, with a crenellated parapet and small tiled conical roof. Pale stone curtain walls enclosed the courtyard, while an arcaded palace gallery carried painted frescoes.

Is Prösels Castle still standing, or is it a ruin?

Prösels Castle is still standing and has been restored rather than remaining a ruin. After Felix, Freiherr von Völs, died in 1810, it stood empty for 50 years and nearly fell into ruins. Restoration began in 1981 under the Kuratorium Schloss Prösels, and the work was completed in 1982.

Can you visit Prösels Castle?

Prösels Castle can be visited through guided visits during the summer months and the Christmas holidays. It also hosts cultural events, including concerts, exhibitions and theatrical performances. Permanent displays include weapons and armour, paintings from the Batzenhäusl restaurant collection, and modern art.

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