Welsperg Castle

A contemporary witness with a long history

A location for exhibitions, concerts and festivals

In 1140, the brothers Schwikher and Otto von Welsperg built the castle on a rocky outcrop above the village of Monguelfo/Welsberg, which would remain in the family for 800 years.

From Welsperg to Monguelfo/Welsberg

Monguelfo/Welsberg was still called Budigum around 1080. This original name of the village lives on in the name ‘Pidigbach’, which is still used today for the watercourse from the Val Casies/Gsiesertal valley. In 1151, 1230 the village name ‘Cella’ (Zell) is used for Monguelfo/Welsberg. This name goes back to the monks' cell that existed here as a “branch monastery” of the Innichen monastery founded by Tassilo III of Bavaria in 769. It was only when the secular rule of the Görz ministerial dynasty of the Lords of Welsperg was established that their name also became established for their ancestral castle and the village. Welsperg is etymologically derived from the mountain of Welf. The Old High German personal name Welf, in its oldest form Hwelf, refers to the young of wild animals. The name was also used as a term of endearment by the ancient Romans, analogous to the Latin word Catalus, which has the same meaning.

About the property

The Lords of Welsperg, who claim to be descended from the Guelphs, are one of the most important noble families in Tyrol. Their political and social rise began as subbailiffs to the Counts of Gorizia and Tyrol. They then increased their wealth and importance through clever marriage policies and skilful trading, mining and administrative activities. The family reached the pinnacle of their rise to power with Baron Guidobold von Welsperg und Primör, who became official chamberlain and advisor to the emperor. In April 1693, Leopold I awarded Guidobald the title of Count of the then Roman Empire of the German Nation.

The castle is closed for the winter. We look forward to welcoming you back in summer 2025.

schloss-welsperg-ghr2496-tv-gsieser-tal-georg-hofer

About the construction of the castle

Welsperg Castle is an unusual and rarely encountered castle complex, which is technically referred to as a core castle. The oldest element of the castle is without doubt the unusually high keep, the construction of which began in 1126 and was completed in 1140. Soon afterwards, the palas with the farm buildings and a Romanesque chapel were built. In 1359, Georg von Welsperg bought Thurn Castle opposite. The castle was considerably extended and remodelled in the 15th and 16th centuries. The year 1765 was the fateful year for the castle as well as for Thurn Castle. A fire destroyed most of the Palas and the farm buildings. The top floor of the Palas was demolished and the roof truss lowered to its current height. From then on, the defence system was more or less left to its fate.

Thurn castle ruins

The ruins are located on a now wooded hill opposite Welsperg Castle.
Thurn Castle was built in the 13th century by the Lords of Welsperg, although the hill on which it was built was probably already inhabited in prehistoric times. Originally, it was a small complex consisting of a small palas and a keep. It was not extended until later. In 1288, the Füllein family, relatives of the Lords of Welsperg, acquired the castle. From the 14th century, the castle is called ‘Thurn’. In 1359, the last Füllein, Jodok, sold the castle to the Welsperg family. By the middle of the 17th century, however, the castle was abandoned to its own fate and nobody bothered to maintain it. As with Welsperg Castle, 15 May 1765 was a fateful day for Thurn Castle: both the present ruins and the castle fell victim to a fire that caused devastat-ing damage. Apart from the farmhouse, it was never rebuilt. Today, the ruins of Thurn are still owned by the heirs of the Counts of Welsperg, Georg Count Thun-Hohenstein-Welsperg.

How do I get there by public transport?

With the Guest Pass, you can travel free of charge on the 441 bus from Val Casies/Gsiesertal to the Monguelfo/Welsberg - Platzbäck stop, from where you can reach Welsperg Castle via a well-signposted hiking trail in around 15 minutes.
From Tesido/Taisten and the train station in Monguelfo/Welsberg, take the Citybus 438 to the Monguelfo/Welsberg – Schulen/Schools stop and walk to the castle from there in 10 minutes.

For those coming from outside
Monguelfo/Welsberg is connected to the Val Pusteria/Pustertal valley railway line, coming from For-tezza/Franzensfeste or San Candido/Innichen, you reach the train station in Monguelfo/Welsberg, where you change to the Citybus line 438 and get off at the stop Monguelfo/Welsberg – Schulen/Schools. After a 10-minute walk you will reach the castle.

From the train station in Monguelfo/Welsberg you can also take the well-signposted hiking trail via the vil-lage centre of Monguelfo/Welsberg to the castle, which takes about 25 minutes.

How do I get there by car?
By car, drive to Monguelfo/Welsberg to car park 6 (entrance Monguelfo Centro/Welsberg Mitte) or to the train station in Monguelfo/Welsberg and walk from there via the village centre of Monguelfo/Welsberg to the castle in approx. 25 minutes.

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