Stetteneck Castle

Legend has it that Stetteneck Castle, a robber-knight stronghold near Ortisei, once stood on the Monte Balest before collapsing into the Rio Pincan gorge during the Middle Ages. Since then, it was considered lost. However, in the summer of 2000, the remains of the castle were discovered during trial excavations on the much lower Pincan hill, the Col da Pincan, in the Val d'Anna.

Large parts of the keep, the ring wall and a castle gate with a Romanesque rounded arch were uncovered. A crossbow arrowhead, a game piece, shards of glass and oil lamps, flints, pottery shards, and many animal bones were found here. The castle dates back to the 13th century and belonged to the Stettenecker family of ministeriales. Knight Gebhard von Stetteneck was a judge in Gudon and a high-ranking official of the Bishop of Bressanone.

He was first mentioned in a document in 1256. Stetteneck Castle was therefore built before 1256. It was surrounded by a ring wall approximately 60 metres long and 1.8 metres wide. If you visit St. Jacob's Church near Ortisei, the Dlieja da Sacun, you are near the castle.