This is an aerial image of stunning Castle Trostburg, Italy. "Castel Trostburg at Ponte Gardena in Valle Isarco is one of the most splendid castle complexes all over South Tyrol. Castel Forte or Castel Trostburg, one of the most famous and splendid castles of South Tyrol, is located on an eastern hillside on a natural rocky promontory.
The history of the castle dates back to the 12th century and it has been mentioned for the first time in 1173 as place of residence of a certain "Cunrat de Trosperch" (Konrad von Trostberg), descending from the Lords of Castelrotto. At 1290 the castle was passed on from the Lords of Velthurns to the Earls of Tyrol, who put the castle in pawn. For about 600 years the castle remained in possession of the Earls of Wolkenstein-Trostburg, one of the main nobilities of Tyrol. In those time the Mediaeval composer and poet Oswald von Wolkenstein grew up here (1377-1445).
Between the 14th and the 16th century the castle was fundamentally enlarged and in the 17th century, under Engelhard Dietrich of the nobility Wolkenstein-Trostburg. In 1981 the castle was passed on into the hands of the Sudtiroler Burgeninstitut and thus was saved from decay. This institution strives for maintaining the special character of the castle and for making the castle available for public. Since 2005 Castel Forte has been hosting the South Tyrolean Castle Museum.
Still today the castle is in a good state thanks to restoration and maintenance works. There are Roman archways, majestic panels and rooms dating back to the 16th and 17th century as well as mouldings of Renaissance in the Interior of the castle. Worth to be visited are also the Gothic room with richly decorated panels as well as the library, which is one of the most famous of its day."