Tirol - Schloss Tirol

Archeologists have excavated a church, dating from the early Christian period, on the castle hill. The first castle was built here before 1100. Another construction phase including the keep dates to 1139/40, followed by a third in the second half of the 13th century.

The castle remained the seat of Tyrol's sovereigns until 1420, when Habsburg duke Friedrich IV (aka " Frederick of the Empty Pockets") moved the administrative seat to Innsbruck.

In modern times parts of the castle fell into disrepair. It was even sold to be used as a quarry, but within the 19th century the castle was restored and rebuilt.

Schloss Tirol is known for the Romanesque portals of the castle's chapel. The works are sometimes compared to the portals in Linden and Remagen. That was, what I wanted to see here.

Below the castle is the "Brunnenburg", built ~ 1250, in ruins for centuries and rebuilt from 1900 on by a German industrialist. It was sold after WWII to Boris and Mary de Rachewiltz. Mary was the daughter of Ezra Pound, who lived here for a while after his return from the US in 1958.