Fragsburg Castle is the highest-standing castle above Merano, perched at 727 metres above sea level. It looks down over the village of Sinigo, offering sweeping views across the Merano basin - a place where history and scenery meet at every turn.

The setting is classic South Tyrol - steep, wooded slopes give way to terraced vineyards and orchards in the valley below. Summers bring a cooling breeze that offers relief from the heat of Merano, while autumn colours transform the hillsides into a warm patchwork. It is a quiet, elevated retreat, close enough to the city to see it, yet far enough to feel away from it all.

How to get there

• Merano/Sinigo — access road built in 1904, also reachable on foot via trails from the valley, time depends on chosen route, difficulty: easy to moderate
• Alternative hiking paths cross the slopes above Sinigo, offering several viewpoints over the Merano basin

Practical information

• The castle was built in the second half of the 13th century by Otto von Auer
• In 1904 the Counts Deuster converted it into a hotel and funded the access road still used today
• After 1918 it was renamed Verruca and used as a holiday colony
• In 2001 the building underwent a complete restoration

Interestingly, despite losses during the Second World War, part of the original furnishings of the castle chapel survived, offering a glimpse of its former grandeur.