There are many other sights to be seen close at hand as well as St. Procolo Church with the oldest frescos in the German-language area of Europe, Reinhold Messner's summer residence at Juval Castle high above Naturno, the Ötzi Museum in Bolzano, the Archeoparc in the Val Senales Valley and the lovely botanical gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle in Merano ...
Gruppo di Tessa Nature Park Centre
The Department for Natural Parks has prepared informative texts and pictures about the Gruppo di Tessa Group Nature Park in particular and other parks in South Tyrol in general. The Nature Park House presents a well-designed miniature reproduction of the park and explains the educational concept of nature parks. Visitors interested to know more about the feel, smell and sounds of nature are sure to enjoy themselves here. Do come and see for yourselves if you would like to experience nature and all her wonders in a totally different way!
| Address: |
Via dei Campi 3 |
| Open: |
30.03. - 06.11.2010 Tuesday to Saturday
09.30 - 12.30 and 14.30 - 18.00 |
| Closed: |
Sundays and Mondays
open non-stop in July, August and September |
| Phone: |
0473 668201 |
| Guides Visits: |
Please book in advance. Available for groups outside normal working hours. Department of Nature Parks, Autonomous Province of Bolzano. |
The Parish Church of St. Zeno
St. Zeno was Bishop of Verona in the fourth century and is the patron saint who protects against flood damage. Evidence of an early pre-Carolingian church and remains of frescos and windows can be seen in the present sacristy nave and in the ground floor of the tower. The Romanesque church was built about 1200 and had a choir tower added onto the a pre-Carolingian apse. The present late Gothic era church was built about 1474/75 and has two naves with ribbed webbing decorations. The choir was rebuilt in Baroque style around the year 1760.
The Church of St. Oswald
Cirlano. St. Oswald, king of Northumberland, England in the seventh century, was originally the patron saint of crusaders. He is now also protector of farmers and of the poor, the weather and water. The church was first mentioned eight hundred years ago when it belonged to the Welfen Cloister at Baden in Wurttemberg. The Gothic church, dating back to 1433, was re-built in 1669. It houses a seventeenth century altar as well as both altar paintings and ceiling paintings by the Naturno Baroque painter Simon Ybertracher (1694-1772). Remains of Gothic frescos on the south wall were uncovered during relatively recent restoration work.
The Church of Our Lady Mary
Stava. The church is dedicated to St. Mary and, together with its four-cornered tower, dates back to Romanesque times. It was rebuilt and re-consecrated in 1638. There is a very beautiful coat-of-arms over the pointed arched portal. The seventeenth century crucifix on the west facade survived undamaged a village fire in 1876.
The Church of St. Nicholas
Tablà. St. Nicholas, patron saint of water sources, travellers and wanderers, was Bishop of Myra in the fourth century. The church was mentioned for the first time in 1369 and yet the walls of the main building and the tower, however, date back to Romanesque times. The choir and pointed arched portal were added during the late Gothic era (1493). The church was later re-built in a more Baroque style and had to be considerable renovated after a village fire in 1899. The late Gothic winged altar, probably carved in Hans Schnatterpeck's workshop, is the church's main treasure.
Hochnaturns/Naturno Castle
The castle of Naturno is the symbol of the village. It houses a collection of medieval furniture and paintings, panelled ceilings and wall panelling, ceramic-tiled ovens and many smaller objects which are of considerable historical value. The castle was built by a minister who served under the Counts of Tyrol. It has been owned privately by the Mastropaolo family since 1952 and was run as a hotel for many years until 1992. It is not open to the general public.
Tarantsberg or Dornsberg Castle
This impressive castle, known by one or the other of its two names, stands at the foot of the Nörderberg between the villages of Naturno and Plaus. The Taranten family were ministers of the Counts of Tyrol and built the castle in 1217. The old panelled ceilings in various rooms, the carved doors and wall cupboards, the panelling, the ceramic-tiled ovens, the Romanesque bow windows and precious paintings (ex. von Bartlmä Dill-Riemenschneider), the tower lunettes and arched corridors are all of historic and artistic importance. The paintings found hidden in the castle chapel which depict scenes from the bible and of the saints have only recently been uncovered. The castle has been owned by the Gottschall family from Munich since 1964 and is not open to the public.
The Parish Church of St. Ulrich, Plaus
This church was first mentioned in 1164 It was, however, completely destroyed by fire in 1400 and only the massive Romanesque bell tower was left standing. The newly-built, Gothic church of today was consecrated on 04.11.1403. Two Baroque-style paintings by the Vinschgau artist Simon Ybertracher (1694-1792) are worthy of note. The church is open during daylight hours.
The Plauser Dance of Death, Plaus
Eighteen scenes painted by the well-known Vinschgau artist, Luis Stephan Stecher, which depict death, our constant companion. Stecher's work reflects the mentality of the local country people, their love of their fatherland and of life in general and the history of the region, - "We all love to dance, only not with such skinny females", their Christian belief and also the constant presence of death throughout their lives. His extremely expressive work adorns the cemetery walls and uses sharp, clear colours and somewhat cruel images. A book has been written about the Plauser Totentanz and a series of postcards is also available from the local Tourist Office.
