The “Südtiroler Burgeninstitut” (South Tyrolean Castles Association) presents the Trostburg as the South Tyrolean Castles Museum.

The most important showpiece is the Trostburg itself, which is also inhabited and used as domicile of the “Südtiroler Burgeninstitut”.

An important attraction is the magnificent Knight’s Hall with its coat-of-arms adornated coffered ceiling. Of special beauty is a triple-domed Gothic room. The chapel and the various entertainment rooms are also attractions.

The storm piles and the wrought-iron gate (Fallgitter) present a castle rarity, as does the largest wine press of the South Tyrol.

The permanent exhibition “Castles – Constructions by history”, situated in 3 rooms at the heart of the castle, with 86 true to scale models is meant to provide the 7000 visitors an insight in the history of development of South Tyrolean Castles.
 

Trostburg at Waidbruck in the Eisack valley is a ministerial castle from the 13th century, although the name Trostburg is first mentioned in 1173.

A donjon, situated towards the east side (where attacks were expected), a great hall at the north side and a curtain wall are to be dated back not until the 13th century.

Between the 14th and the 15th century the castle was mainly extended inwardly and altered and developed with fortifications and other expansions in the 16th and 17th century.

In later centuries the baroque south wing was altered and in the last decades major conservation – and restoration works were performed.

So the castle is a construction of many époques, especially from the Romanesque to the Baroque.

Important are the ternary vaulted gothic parlour, late gothic paintings and one of the most beautiful Renaissance halls of the country (around 1607) as well as the artistic décor of the chapel.

The idyllic appearance of the castle residence with defensive characteristics is however marked by constructions of the Renaissance (1594-1632).

Between 1385 and 1967, the castle enthroned above Waidbruck, was the possession of the Counts von Wolkenstein-Trostburg.

In 1967 the ownership passed to the “Südtiroler Burgeninstitut” (South Tyrolean Castles Association). While it can still be saved from falling into ruin, Trostburg remains for the most part, through circumspect and reserved maintenance measures, in its original condition.

With private commitment and public help it was in the interest of the association to save this unique castle complex from decay and open it to the public as an evidence of regional history.