Castelchiaro Castle

An impressive ruin towers on an elevation of the Monte di Mezzo ridge at 576 m a.s.l. high above Lake Caldaro: Castelchiaro Castle. For many years now it has been the landmark of the area surrounding the warmest bathing lake in the Alps. Such as Varco Castle which rises in the north-east, also Castelchiaro Castle is located on the municipal territory of Vadena. Presumably it dates back to the time around 1200 and the Lords of Rottenburg: For a long time it was in possession of this family and of the archbishops of Trento. In 1610, the castle was abandoned and fell into decay.

Characteristic are its two later built outer castle areas and the tower-like main building. It was built as a gigantic shield wall although the castle stood already on a hill which made attacks from the outside more difficult. In the 20th century, the present owners - the Counts of Enzenberg - had the castle complex consolidated. Today a popular hiking path leads in approx. 60 minutes up to the ruin and to the nearby rock formations called "Horse Teeth". Castelchiaro Castle (Leuchtenburg, in German) is freely accessible and offers a stunning view on Lake Caldaro.