Stetteneck Castle

Castle Stetteneck in the vicinity of Ortisei was once situated on the Monte Bales and often visited by robber barons. In the Middle Ages it fell into the Rio Pincan gorge and its remains were not found until the summer of 2000. During these excavation works its rests were brought to light on the much lower Pincan hill in the Anna valley. Experts found large parts of the keep, the curtain wall, as well as a Romanesque portal topped with a pointed arch.

Other objects discovered include an arrowhead of a crossbow, a piece of a game, glass, pottery and oil lamp shards, flint stones and animal bones. The fortress dates back to the 13th century and belonged to the ministerial family of the Stettenecker. Knight Gebhard von Stetteneck was a judge in Gudon and a high-ranking official of the Bishop of Bressanone.

The castle was first mentioned in written documents from 1256. It was surrounded by a 60-metre long and 1.8 metre large curtain wall. We recommend visiting also the St. Jacob's Church (Dlieja da Sacun in Ladin) in the vicinity of Ortisei and of the castle.