Description of the attraction
One of the most famous Tyrolean castles, the Matzen Fortress, is located on the ancient trade road laid by the Romans. Probably, the fortress, which at that time was called Maskiakum, was used for recreation during long military transitions. These conjectures are supported by ancient uniforms and weapons found during excavations, as well as jewelry created by Roman craftsmen.
Time passed, and local nobles began to own the castle, who in 1167 transferred their property to the archbishops from Salzburg. A few years later, a castle chapel was erected on the territory of Matzen Castle, named after one of the owners. In 1410, the castle was besieged by the troops of the Bavarian Duke Frederick. Archaeologists have discovered several cores from that era during excavations in the fortress. Duke Frederick presented the captured castle to his favorite, commander and knight Ulrich von Frundsberg. In subsequent years, the fortress was owned by representatives of many famous families. Few people paid attention to the state of the castle. It was only during the reign of the Fuggers that the Gothic fortress was rebuilt into a comfortable palace.
The six-story castle, one of the three castles in Matzen, is currently privately owned. The current owners, who bought the fortress only in 2008, have transformed it into a luxury hotel. Now travelers can not only inspect the historical building with a high round tower topped with a cone-shaped roof from the inside, but also spend the night under the ancient vaults. The castle is surrounded by a shady park. A popular restaurant can be found next to the building.
