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Chur Castle, one of the most important and best preserved castles in South Tyrol, towers majestically above Sluderno, west of Merano, above the Stelvio Park in the heart of the Vinschgau Valley. The castle was built around 1250 by the Prince Bishop of Chur, Heinrich von Montfort. Already in 1297 it fell into the hands of the Lords of Mazia, bitter enemies of the bishopric of Chur.
In 1504, on the death of the last descendant of the Lords of Mazia, the castle, in the meantime enlarged and fortified, passed into the hands of the Counts Trapp. In 1516 it housed Emperor Maximilian I. Even today the castle is still the property and summer residence of the Trapp family.
Originally the castle was built by a massive tower, the palace and a boundary wall. Later several ramparts, towers, gates, a Romanesque chapel and an extensive garden were built.
The castle, which has never fallen into enemy hands, houses a series of richly decorated rooms, wood-panelled stubs enriched with majolica stoves and a rich library. The castle houses the largest private armory in the world. The more than 50 perfectly preserved armours, complete with weapons and accessories, allow to equip an entire guardhouse of the castle. The firearms that were requisitioned during the Napoleonic period are missing.
The most important piece of this breakfast is certainly the armour that belonged to Ulrich von Matsch. It dates back to 1450, weighs over 40 kilograms and is 2.10 metres high. It is a work of the famous Missaglia armory in Milan.
