Castelfeder - a biotope
Castelfeder - a biotope
The painters on their journey home from Greece used to call the hill of Catselfeder "Arcady of Tirol". This is characteristic for the bare porphyry rounded hilltops cut by the ice age glaciers, next to hollows and meadows, grazing cattle, wild bushes, ponds and mire pools, ancient oaks, mysterious ruins and an incredible variety of the Mediterranean nature.
A special habitat is represented by the ponds of the biotope: during summer the water is warmed up causing the content of oxygen to diminish. Through the evaporation the water level sinks as well and the concentration of dissolved mineral salts increases. This again, facilitates the lush development of water plants. Depending on how deep the water is, a great variety of plants can be observed, which are for their part the food basis for a varying and rich fauna of the ponds.
Traces of settlment
Castelfeder has been the centre of human existence in the valley Unterland over the centuries. Stone and Bronze Age tribes, Raeter, Romans, Raetoromans, Eastgotes, Langobards, Franks, Bajuwars and medieval nobility who lived in the fertile settlement triangle of Montan-Neumarkt-Auer, have taken refuge on the strategic hill over and over again in troublesome times.
After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the Byzantine Kingdom made Castelfeder into an armed stronghold against the German tribes shortly after the year 500 AD. On this "Acropolis" hundreds of people including their animals and supplies could find shelter. The ruins of the 500 m long wall of the biggest stronghold of the Etsch Valley are called "Kuchelen" and they resemble the type of construction of the city walls of Constantinople.
starting point for walks, cycling tours and skiing
From early spring to late autumn the house is an ideal starting point for walks in the National Park Trudner Horn and its surroundings. In winter you can reach the ski areas of Pampeago and Obereggen within 20 minutes by car.
