Malcesine Castle

Malcesine Castle

Malcesine Castle, locally known as the Castello Scaligero of Malcesine, lies on a rock in the center of the town of Malcesine, in the Verona province in the Veneto region in Italy.

It is thought that the first fortification at this site was built by the Lombards. According to legend, that castle was destroyed and then rebuilt by the Franks in 590 AD. Legend also has it that King Pepin of Italy, son of Charlemagne, visited the castle in 803.

Following a period of Hungarian raids in the area during the 10th century, the castle became part of the Veronese episcopal properties.

In the late 13th century it passed into the hands of the mighty Scaliger family. That noble family, also called the Della Scala family, ruled Verona and rebuilt the castle, giving it its present appearance. Malcesine Castle, together with their other castles at Sirmione, Lazise, Torri del Benaco and Riva, served the Scaligers to exert their total control over Lake Garda. The castle would be a residence of theirs from 1277 until 1387.

Later it would be occupied by the Visconti Dukes of Milan, until they lost possession of it in 1403. During the following century, ownership of the castle would be contested by the Venetian Republic and the German Empire. In 1513 it was successfully besieged by a Venetian force and afterwards stayed in Venetian hands until the 18th century. In 1786, still during Venetian ownership, Malcesine Castle was visited by the famous German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.

The castle was briefly occupied by the French in 1797, followed by another brief occupation by Austrian troops in 1798. Between 1805 and 1815 the castle was part of the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy, before falling back to the Austrian Empire in that last year. It stayed in Austrian hands until 1866 when it passed to the Kingdom of Italy. Italy first used the castle as a border post, but it quickly fell into disuse.

At present the castle houses a local history museum and is owned by the municipality. The white tents next to the castle are covering an open air theater.

Malcesine Castle can be visited for a fee. Sadly enough, it was out of season when I came by, so I could not access it. Too bad. But still a great castle in a nice town.

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Malcesine Castle

Malcesine Castle

Malcesine Castle, locally known as the Castello Scaligero of Malcesine, lies on a rock in the center of the town of Malcesine, in the Verona province in the Veneto region in Italy.

It is thought that the first fortification at this site was built by the Lombards. According to legend, that castle was destroyed and then rebuilt by the Franks in 590 AD. Legend also has it that King Pepin of Italy, son of Charlemagne, visited the castle in 803.

Following a period of Hungarian raids in the area during the 10th century, the castle became part of the Veronese episcopal properties.

In the late 13th century it passed into the hands of the mighty Scaliger family. That noble family, also called the Della Scala family, ruled Verona and rebuilt the castle, giving it its present appearance. Malcesine Castle, together with their other castles at Sirmione, Lazise, Torri del Benaco and Riva, served the Scaligers to exert their total control over Lake Garda. The castle would be a residence of theirs from 1277 until 1387.

Later it would be occupied by the Visconti Dukes of Milan, until they lost possession of it in 1403. During the following century, ownership of the castle would be contested by the Venetian Republic and the German Empire. In 1513 it was successfully besieged by a Venetian force and afterwards stayed in Venetian hands until the 18th century. In 1786, still during Venetian ownership, Malcesine Castle was visited by the famous German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.

The castle was briefly occupied by the French in 1797, followed by another brief occupation by Austrian troops in 1798. Between 1805 and 1815 the castle was part of the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy, before falling back to the Austrian Empire in that last year. It stayed in Austrian hands until 1866 when it passed to the Kingdom of Italy. Italy first used the castle as a border post, but it quickly fell into disuse.

At present the castle houses a local history museum and is owned by the municipality. The white tents next to the castle are covering an open air theater.

Malcesine Castle can be visited for a fee. Sadly enough, it was out of season when I came by, so I could not access it. Too bad. But still a great castle in a nice town.

Gallery

Details
Hits: 815