Castel Herbstenburg

Castel Herbstenburg rises near the parish church of Dobbiaco, at about 1,200 m a.s.l. The building was named after the brothers Kaspar and Christoph Herbst who acquired it around 1500. In the 16th century it was entirely modified and following the extinction of the Herbst family it changed hands several times before being purchased by its current owners, the Counts Bossi-Fedrigotti.

Castel Herbstenburg was the heart of a complex extending to the red tower northwest of the village which was connected to the castle by an underground tunnel. The castle prison was situated below the fortress. In 1508 and in 1511 Emperor Maximilian I von Habsburg was a guest of this loyal servants Herbst and therefore stayed in the castle for a few months.

The interiors of the castle are characterised by impressive vaults, frescoes dating back to the times of the emperor Maximilian, beam ceilings, precious protrusions, merlons and gratings. Unfortunately, only the external part of the castle can be visited, which is, however, still very impressive.