Schloss Juval – a real jewel!

Reinhold Messner’s Juval Castle, which Messner acquired in the summer of 1983, overlooks the community of Staben from a height of 1,000 metres and stands at the edge of the Texelgruppe Natural Park. The castle was built in 1278 by Hugo von Montalban. Since then it has changed hands repeatedly and gone through various phases of decay and restoration. When Reinhold Messner purchased the castle, it was in a state of ruin that gave little hint of a castle’s splendour. He arranged for the castle’s immediate renovation in a manner in keeping with its three earlier building phases. The installation of a glass-and-steel roof to protect the ruins (the northern section) from further decay has brought renovation work to a close for the present. Messner spends the summer months with his family at this idyllic castle. There he devotes himself to his writing, works the land and develops museum exhibits. Among the populace, and by the castle’s owner himself, Juval is looked upon as an artistic synthesis, as it is at once castle, museum, vineyard and organic farm.

As Reinhold Messner explains, “Juval represents neither nostalgic reverie nor one of Messner’s quirks. It is a total work of art, a vision become reality – a harmonic juxtaposition of nature, culture and tourism. It is an attempt to restore to the mountains and to the people what the Indians refer to as ‘tashi delek’—a little bit of good fortune and peace…”

Juval Castle, with its four art collections and two courtyards, is open to visitors in both spring and fall for three months each season.

What there is to see?

• The two castle courtyards: Himalayan cedars and sculptures from India, Nepal and Tibet.
• Play tower: Historical pictures of Juval Castle and an oil painting by Luis Trenker.
• East tower: Frescoes (portraits of Emperor Maximilian I and Maria of Burgundy, equestrian games).
• Gothic tower (in the residential section): Frescoes by B.T. Riemenschneider.
• House chapel: Religious symbols from three millennia (Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity).< /li>
• The Hall of the Thousand Joys: A globally unique collection devoted to GESAR LING (a figure of Tibetan legend).
• The mask room: A collection of masks from five continents, and a large Guru Rimpoche figure.
• Library: Mountain and adventure literature and a Peter Anrich map (1774).
• Expedition cellar: Equipment used on Reinhold Messner’s expeditions.
• Tantra room: A unique collection of Tantric art from Tibet, Nepal and Bhutan.
• Gompa: Three representations of Buddha and ritual instruments from Nepal.
• TheCave of Enlightenment: A large Milarepa figure.
• The House of the Trolls and Gnomes: A ruin containing sculptures and a Zen garden.
• Gallery of mountain pictures (former castle keep): Thirty-five pictures on four floors illustrating Reinhold Messner’s relationship with mountains (development, history, mental attitude and endeavours).

Juval visitor information

Botanical tour at Juval Castle (free admission)

Hours and guided tours:
From Palm Sunday until the end of June and from September until the beginning of November. Visits by guided tour only (hourly from 10 AM to 4 PM). Closed on Wednesdays.

Reservations:
For groups and special guided tours only (during regular visiting hours)
Phone +39 348 4433871
Fax +39 0473 221852

There are no parking facilities at the castle.
For ecological reasons visitors are kindly asked to take the shuttle bus or to arrive on foot.

By foot
From the Juval parking lot on the Vinschger Staatsstrasse, from Staben, or via the “Waalwege” (old irrigation channels) from Tschars or Altrateis (approximately 1 hour by each route).

Shuttle bus:
Daily except Wednesdays: Regular trips between the Schnalserhof parking lot, the entrance parking lot, the Schlosswirt restaurant and Juval Castle. Scheduled runs: from 9:25 a.m., Schnalserhof parking lot.

Individual pick-up service:
Juval (Schupfer) Tours, Naturns
Phone +39 0473 668058
Fax +39 0473 667858