Moniga Castle

Moniga Castle, locally known as Castello di Moniga, lies in the village of Moniga del Garda, in the Brescia province in the Lombardy region in Italy.

Moniga Castle was built during the 10th century as a refuge for the locals in a reaction to raids of Hungarians frequenting the area. In Italian, these kinds of refuge castles are called a 'ricetto'.

After the 10th century, the threat of the Hungarians disappeared and the castle fell into decay. In the following centuries, it first came to be used by local farmers and shepherds as a tool shed and sheepfold. Later, these locals settled permanently inside its walls. In 1192 the castle was donated by the Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI to the monastery of Leno.

Between the 14th and 15th centuries, Moniga Castle was rebuilt, so much so that nothing remains of this old complex except its foundations. Its present appearance dates back to this building phase. The houses inside are even more modern.

Today the castle is like a very tiny walled neighborhood with in its interior several residences around 3 narrow cobblestone streets. It can freely be visited, a very nice castle.

Moniga del Garda is situated in an area called Valtènesi. This area roughly encompasses the hilly lowland between the southwest bank of Lake Garda and the mountains. During the 10th and 11th century several settlements in Valtènesi built similar castles as Moniga; like Bedizzole, Carzago, Padenghe, Polpenazze, Puegnago and Soiano. So, if you like castles, this is surely an area to visit.

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