Castles & Manors in Nalles near Merano in South Tyrol
The historical village of Nalles in the Etschtal Valley
Castles & Manors in Nalles near Merano in South Tyrol

Castles & Manors in Nalles near Merano in South Tyrol

The historical village of Nalles in the Etschtal Valley

Nalles/Nals is renowned for its long history dating back to pre-Roman times. With no fewer than four castles it also flourished during the late Medieval period.

Though now in private hands, the Schwanburg Castle came to its present form in the 16th Century and belong to the Boymundt-Payersberg nobility. The imposing Stachelburg Castle is the epitome of an early Renaissance construction and today houses a restaurant. Just above Nalles in Casaccia/Unterkasatsch lie the ruins of Pfeffersburg Castle. It was built in 1194 by the Lords of Tisens with the approval of the then Bishop. However, it was later abandoned in 1600 after which it fell into dereliction. Today, the grounds on which the castle once stood is criss-crossed by idyllic family hiking trails. Protruding from a rocky outcrop Payersberg Castle, with its medieval towers, dates from the 13th Century.

The castles of Nalles are well worth visiting while on a hike. In the immediate vicinity are also other manors, churches and monasteries just waiting to be discovered, including the medieval castles of Leonburg and Hocheppan. Not to forget Prsssiano/Prissian, with its numerous country estates and castles.
Castle Schwanburg
Castle Schwanburg
At the exit of the Sirmian river canyon, just below Castle Payersberg, you will find the well-presented, occupied and cultivated Schwanburg. The fortress, ...
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The Stachelburg residence
The Stachelburg residence
The residence is a playful Early Renaissance building from the second half of the 16th Century. For several generations, the beautiful, romantic building has ...
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Heart of Jesus church Sirmiano
Heart of Jesus church Sirmiano
In 1843, in Untersirmian, the small Heart of Jesus church was built, which is the first of a  few churches, which were consecrated to the heart of Jesus. The ...
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Nals river chapel - Holy Cross Chapel
Nals river chapel - Holy Cross Chapel
Previously, this was the most visited chapel in the region. It is only 15 minutes by foot from the village centre, situated above the Nalserbach farmhouse at ...
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Saint Ulrich parish church
Saint Ulrich parish church
The church of Saint Ulrich was founded during the 12th Century by the cloisters of Saint Afra in Augsburg and has been used as the Nals parish church since ...
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Castle Payersberg
Castle Payersberg
High above Nals, on a rocky mountain ledge at the edge of the Sirmian river canyon, you find the ruins of Castle Payersberg. The castle was built during the ...
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Saint Apollonia Church
Saint Apollonia Church
High on a porphyry hill in Obersirmian stands the Saint Apollonia church. The little church, which was originally consecrated to Saint Pelagius, was built ...
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Ruins of Casatsch Pfeffersburg Castle in Prissian/Prissiano
Ruins of Casatsch Pfeffersburg Castle in Prissian/Prissiano
Casatsch Pfeffersburg Castle which once stood on the rop of a high-ranging hill above the village Nals, now only contains some ruined walls. In 1194, Konrad II ...
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