Badia Castle

Badia Castle, not far from the main road leading through the Val Pusteria, is castle, former convent and hotel at the same time

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Badia Castle is not only an impressive castle, but also a hotel and a former convent.
Foto: BS, © Peer
Still today there are remnants of the ancient murals of the Mediaeval castle.
Foto: BS, © Peer
View from the ancient murals down on the meadows of San Lorenzo di Sebato.
Foto: BS, © Peer
The walls are even more impressive considering that the stones were piled one on another by hand.
Foto: BS, © Peer
In 1785, however, Joseph II closed the convent down.
Foto: BS, © Peer
The complex of Badia Castle is particularly well-kept.
Foto: BS, © Peer
A last view on the venerable walls.
Foto: BS, © Peer
Also the district of San Lorenzo di Sebato, where the abbey is located, is called Castelbadia.
Foto: BS, © Peer
Castel Glurnhör Hebenstreit.
Foto: BS, © Peer

Sonnenburg Castle, also called Badia Castle, lies on a small hill at the entrance to San Lorenzo di Sebato, before the town of Brunico. Unfortunately, there are no remains of the original convent of Sonnenburg. However, the ruins of the medieval curtain wall can still be seen.

Originally, Badia Castle was built as the residence of the noble family of Lurn, in the year 1020 it became a very reputable convent for noble women (Order of Saint Benedict). In 1785, however, Emperor Joseph II closed it down. The crypt of the convent church hosts some very interesting and well maintained medieval frescoes, which were discovered during some restoration works. The curtain wall with its embrasures and medieval round towers is very worth to be visited, too. Today, Badia Castle hosts a very elegant hotel, which is being renovated in a very tasteful and appropriate way - it is accessible to hotel guests.